| Life in Jamaica 1 |
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Life In Jamaica
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  Montego Bay, reggae music, and the white sands of the Caribbean conjure up images of tourist and resort life in Jamaica. But once you leave the glitter of the coast and venture inland, true Jamaica culture emerges quickly. Along the dirt roads are potholes the size of small craters. Goats and cows are tied alongside the road by a single rope. Women tote 10 gallonbuckets full of water on top of their heads as they walk. Men pack yams astride their donkeys on the way to the market.
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  Although the Jamaican bush is a country of tropics and mountains and astonishing beauty, the lush foliage often covers a life of stark poverty and deprivation. Large numbers of people and families live in small, dilapidated houses or structures that are made of cement block roofed with tin or “zinc.” Many homes do not have running water, and are dependent upon streams running through the mountains or rain water running off the roofs for drinking, cooking, bathing, and washing clothes. Many people wash in the streams. Fortunate families have large plastic water tanks that hold the rainwater to be used when the rains slow down. Fruits are often gathered from the trees (coconut, mangos, pineapple, bananas) and vegetables such as yams and carrots are grown on the land. Other food is raised to sell at the market such as tomatoes, sweet peppers, callaloo, and beans. Ginger is also harvested to sell or use.
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 The market is open daily in most towns where people sell their  fruits, vegetables and wares and crafts. Children are seen in town in their school uniforms walking to school or home. In Jamaica, children begin school at Basic school, equivalent to the U.S. Kindergarten. Primary school (our elementary) covers grades 1-6 and High School goes from grades 7 through 12. Public school is held half days only. Tuition is required for public school and many families cannot afford to send their children to school although education is highly valued. And even if a child has only one uniform to wear to school, you can be sure it is pressed and washed daily to present a clean and neat appearance.
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There are no governmental social programs and medical and dental care is hard to find and even more difficult to afford. If you cannot pay, you cannot receive medical services. The simplest amenities here, such as aspirin or bandaids, are a luxury in many cases. Many people cannot find jobs so children and families learn to do without and survive on what they have.
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But despite the hardship of a life that is often filled with hunger and need, the people of Jamaica are  both proud and humble. When asked how someone is, the answer is often “I am blessed and grateful to God to have this day.” Many families go to church and even if their daytime clothes are worn and tattered, they usually have a church outfit that is cleaned and ironed and worn with pride. Ladies usually wear hats to church  services. Many people walk to church; few families have the luxury of a car. But their praise and worship and singing to the Lord can be heard far and wide!
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 The need in Jamaica is vast; children and families are hungry, children are not in school, proper clothing is scarce and jobs are even scarcer. The Glory Outreach Program is your chance to make a difference, one child or one family at a time. We need your help to help the people of Jamaica. Please give what you can monetarily or in prayers. Contact your family, friends and church and share this information so they can help, too. For every child that does not go to bed hungry, for the shoes on their feet, for the chance to attend school, for a needed pair of glasses or trip to the dentist, they will appreciate you.
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You will make a difference!
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Please contact us at:
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