Colleen Weiss, now a first-year law student at the University, is a past student of the after-school programme who has returned to teach at the school. She spoke about the impact this programme has had on her at a recent Awards presentation:

Tension, restlessness, adverse poverty, illiteracy, "were just a few conditions that existed in the community of Wilton Gardens (Rema) when the youth upliftment programme was launched in 1994."

"In retrospect, I regard the former years of being a part of this programme a milestone in my life. Being a teenage girl attending a prominent high school in Kingston and living in the inner city, the prospects of having a future seemed very bleak. But, it was through this program that the silver lining behind my dark cloud was unveiled to me."

"This program has had a tremendous impact on my spiritual, personal and educational life. I was taught the priceless qualities of self-discipline, self-respect, confidence and that I could aspire and work towards being a successful individual."

"Of most importance, was the role of God in our lives. We were taught deep religious principles that place God at the pinnacle of my life. He was never left out of anything that I pursued. The Scripture 'Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?' became an inspiration for me to live by and achieve my goal in life."

"After school each day, I felt assured that going to the Centre, I would be assisted with my assignments that enabled me to excel academically. It was the discipline, determination, assistance received from the programme and the help of the Almighty God that enabled me to successfully pass four CXC's subjects in the fourth form year, with seven additional passes the following year."

"The proverb 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy' was widely practiced in our curriculum of the programme. As an addition to addressing the educational needs of the students, the social aspect was not by any means ignored. There were many trips to interesting places through which we learnt the socialization patterns and etiquette of society."

"In my estimation, there was no area to which I was not exposed. In essence, the Operation Restoration Youth Enhancement Programme has produced a well-rounded individual in the person of Colleen Weiss. There is no task that I cannot accomplish, nor any mountain that I cannot move. Despite all the obstacles, trials and snares, Ms. Lorna Stanley and her students, particularly the teenagers, can rise above the challenges and become successful. I can proudly say that I am one of those individuals. I am on my way to becoming a success."

Colleen Weiss

Colleen now teaches at the Operation Restoration School on Mondays and Fridays