Young People ‘Nice Up’ Parts of Jamaica After Outreach Community Impact  

Operation Save a Youth drove hundreds of young people to take part in more than 50 projects in the central region.

April 15, 2024 | Clarendon, Jamaica | Lawrie Henry and IAD News Staff

More than 2,000 young people from throughout the central part of Jamaica came together during a massive community impact event in the parish of Clarendon, during Operation Save a Youth (OSAY). OSAY is an annual day of service-based activities organized by the Central Jamaica Conference in which Seventh-day Adventist youth volunteer to clean, beautify, uplift, and donate to the needy and the community.

Pastor Dwayne Scott, youth ministries director at Central Jamaica Conference, said more than 50 projects were executed across the parish in just one day.

“We painted the Summerfield girl’s home and the St. Augustine boy’s home, the May Pen and Lionel Town hospitals, the May Pen police station, and sidewalks in the community,” said Scott. Young people also cleaned up the Welcome and Rocky Point beaches and made a massive effort in the (May Pen) town centre. Bathrooms and minor house repairs were made at 15 homes, he added.

In addition, five beds, two wheelchairs, and 100 care packages were donated to the Clarendon Infirmary. Matron Joan Thompson, who works at the infirmary, was grateful to see 18 residents receive dental care and seven staff members receive medical attention, in addition to donations and beautification of the grounds.

CEO of the May Pen Hospital Eugena Clarke-James thanked church organizers for the care packages and bed and wheelchair donated and said the donation will have a long-lasting impact. She also thanked young people for the mural depicting healing that they painted at the hospital. “I know patients will find the artwork therapeutic,” she said.

Projects completed by OSAY volunteers this year also included painting and building a fence at local schools, college, and community centers, beautifying the local cemetery, as well as repairing roofs, placing flooring, and renovating the homes of several needy residents. OSAY volunteers also distributed food to the homeless, built a ramp for a disabled resident, and helped build a home in the area.

Trawayne Sachin Francis, along with his mother and sister, were grateful for their new home. “Our living conditions were so bad and now we are getting the opportunity to sleep in a space that when it rains the water will not come in and we have space to store our items. I am thankful to the church and the volunteers,” Francis said.

Blessed to serve

Volunteers found that they were blessed even as they sought to be a blessing.

Kayla Weir of Palmers Cross Adventist Church and president of the Clarendon AY Federation described OSAY 2024 as an awesome experience that lived up to the theme “Touching Hearts and Saving Lives.”

Weir was team leader for the clean-up project at the old police station in May Pen along with another team leader, Shelly-Ann Gordon, and 65 youth. She said it went better than anticipated because the task seemed daunting given the magnitude of the garbage accumulation. “Despite initial concerns about motivating young people to tackle such a challenging clean-up, we were pleasantly surprised by their enthusiasm and willingness,” said Weir. “Bags of garbage were collected with zeal, including a huge pile that had been accumulating for years at the back of the station,” Weir said.

Project leader and member of Berry Hill Adventist Church in Mandeville, Patricia Grant, expressed similar sentiments. “Witnessing millennials and Gen Zs get excited over projects that are not ‘trendy’ was truly inspiring. We engaged in meaningful conversations and bonded over the shared goal of bringing Jesus into the streets,” Grant said.

As part of OSAY activities, a health and education expo was held with over 30 exhibitors and service providers who performed medical and dental checks, eye screening, free massages, counseling, and other services.

During the expo, 22 high school and university students were awarded scholarships totalling over US $6,000 to assist with their educational expenses.

Young people also participated in a massive road march through May Pen town center where they distributed prayer cards and Adventist tracts and books and took part in a concert for fellowship and thanksgiving service to end the impact.

Scott explained that OSAY, which began in 2016, was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “After the four-year hiatus it was a great joy to have the opportunity to serve again,” Scott said.

A way to disciple

Pastor Nevail Barrett, president of Central Jamaica Conference, said the youth who volunteered their time and service genuinely believe in serving God and humanity.

“Just witnessing over 2,000 young people in service to God, humanity, and country, brought a sense of satisfaction, joy, and hope to my heart, regarding the bright future of our church. Believing in them and allowing them to serve is the best way to nurture and make disciples of them,” he said.

“This is not just about preaching the gospel, it’s about scratching where it’s itching because people have genuine needs and it’s our objective to minister to the needs, just as Jesus did,” Barrett said.

May Pen Mayor, Joel Williams and a team from the parish council were present to observe and participate in some of the OSAY projects.

“The [youth] are working with me and the municipal corporation to make May Pen clean again to the point where the citizens can be proud of their town and environment,” Williams said.

Scott said the success of the operation would not have been possible without the partners and 25 sponsors who came on board. Next year’s OSAY impact is scheduled to take place in St. Catherine.

Kimarley Walker Medley contributed to this article.