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Helping hand ‘brings his smile back’

KNOCKPATRICK, Jamaica — All of the children our group encountered during our stay at Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf (CCCD) undoubtedly left lasting impressions in our hearts and minds.

One young man in particular stood out to me. His story is both compelling and heartbreaking.

Javed was born free of disabilities. However, when he was a young child, he suffered serious head trauma to the side of his ear as a result of physical abuse from a family member. The effects of the trauma did not surface until later in life. Javed lost his hearing at 17 years of age.

Before this tragedy, Javed attended a secular school that simply did not have the resources to accommodate his new-found disability. He decided to stop going to school because he was unable to hear his teachers and could not learn. A neighbor took note and told him about a school that catered to the needs of deaf children.

Javed was enthralled to learn that he would, in fact, be able to receive an education despite his condition. The knowledge “brought his smile back.” He immediately enrolled in CCCD, paying his tuition himself the first year.

Soon, however, he found himself unable to afford his education. Javed stopped going to school again and was contacted by the schoolmaster who told him they would find a way to pay for Javed’s education. For the next couple of years, he was supported solely through the generous donations of sponsors.

Unfortunately, the money paid through sponsorships was not consistent so Javed supplemented the sponsorships he received by working on the school’s farm. He labored alongside the groundskeeper doing everything from mowing the enormous campus to taking care of the chickens and livestock. He became an employee as well as a student at CCCD. Javed has not allowed himself to be hindered by his disability and has overcome adversity against all odds.

Javed aspires to move to the United States to acquire a degree in Christian Counseling. In the meantime, he is taking advantage of the vocational programs offered at the center. so that he can save for his education.

Stories like his remind us why sponsorships are so very important to the success of underprivileged students.

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More information about Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf and how to sponsor a child is available at www.cccdjamaica.org.