13-Year-Old Helping Elderly Neighbour During Pandemic

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has brought pain and suffering for people everywhere, particularly the most vulnerable,  but it has also shown that an abundance of kindness exists among persons at all levels of society, including children.

One such kind soul is 13-year-old student of Denbigh High School in Clarendon, Rhianna Minott, who, since the onset of the pandemic, has taken on the task of assisting an elderly gentlemen who lives alone in her Rocky Point community.

She takes water to him every day after completing her schoolwork and household chores, including helping out on the family’s poultry farm.

With the assistance of her family, she also ensures that the senior citizen is regularly supplied with food items.

“It is something that she does on a regular basis because that elderly person lives in her community, and it is very fascinating to see that a young child like that is able to reach out to an elderly person in such a way,” Rhianna’s teacher, Noyoka Jones, tells JIS News.

Miss Jones describes Rhianna as a “wonderful student”, who participates well in class and always has something positive to share with others.

She credits her for being a good example and showing other children that they, too, can do their part in helping needy or vulnerable persons in the society.

“A young child is seeing a real need and acting on it. She can be an example to other students and other children in her age group to let them know that they can be helpful and kind. The more kids identify the need to be kind, more loving, we will have a better Jamaica and a better world,” she says.

Rhianna tells JIS News that she felt driven to help others. “It’s just the spirit in me, because when you help persons you get back your blessings from God, and I will continue helping,” she shares.

The youngster, who wants to become a banker, says she enjoys the time spent with her elderly neighbour, noting that during her visits he sings and tells stories that “make me laugh”.

Her mother, Tashia Banton, says Rhianna ensures that the neighbor is never out of food or water.

She says she feels proud of her daughter and that the family has set a good example of the importance of reaching out to the less fortunate. “The spirt to help is in the family. I have a soft heart too and I feel that people should be helpful because everybody doesn’t have the same opportunity like others,” Ms. Banton tells JIS News.

Rhianna’s efforts have been incorporated as part of a Kindness Project at Denbigh High, where students are encouraged to undertake a voluntary task at school or in the wider community.

Vice Principal at the school, Dianne Gordon-Denton, shares that the Kindness Project is one way of empowering young people to become charitable citizens.

“They are learning from it and how to give back to society, and in so doing, they will become holistic persons,” she tells JIS News.

“Here at Denbigh, it is not just about the formal education; we also try to get our students to be responsible in all aspects of the curriculum,” Mrs. Gordon-Denton says, adding that it is hoped that when the students become adults “they will teach other persons, including their children, that this is the way to go, and we will be a better nation because of this.”

She says that the leadership of the school is very “impressed” with the students, who are engaged in various activities as part of the Kindness Project.

She notes that the sixth-form students have adopted a children’s home, while the eighth-graders have reached out to an indigent person. The May Pen Hospital and the nurses’ station at the school also benefit from the efforts of the student body.

“We have impressed upon them that even as students, you can give back to society,” the Vice Principal says.