Some of the children of My Father's House playing basketball with other members from the Whitehouse community.WESTERN BUREAU:
JANUARY 31, 2003 may be renamed 'Day of Doom' in the lives of 14 Jamaican children, if a compassionate
Government does not waive a $2 million transfer tax and stamp duty required for them to remain in their home.
The children, ages ranging between one to sixteen years old and their foster parents Jim and Penie Koch, will lose their home, a seven-bedroom house, valued at $36.7 million, which was donated by good Samaritan Edward Nahmkin, if they cannot come up with the transfer tax within the next two weeks.
Named, 'My Father's House', the home located in the small fishing village of South Sea Park, Whitehouse, Westmoreland, was established in 1996 as a refuge by the Kochs who are members of the Kingdom Builders Ministry, a non-profit corporation.
My Father's House is registered as a foster home, and its survival is dependent on donations from local sources and abroad. Although the home was given freely to Jim and his wife, part of the agreement included them paying the transfer tax and stamp duty of US$82,000 that accompanied the deal.
Efforts by the Kochs to get a 100 per cent waiver of the transfer fee before the January 31 deadline have been fruitless. "We cannot afford to lose this home. Not only are we providing shelter, food and clothing for children in need, but we also provide a well balanced atmosphere in which to grow, quality education, vocational training, recreational facilities and spiritual growth," says Jim Koch.
Six months ago, the government assisted the home by waiving 50 per cent of the amount, reducing the figure to US$41,000 or the equivalent of $2 million, but according to Jim and Penie Koch, this is money they just don't have. In the meantime uncertainty hangs over the future of all who live in the home.
The children of My Father's House have been rescued from distressing circumstances. The mother of thirteen-year-old Jody, is serving time in prison after she was caught transporting drugs to England earlier this year. Eleven-year-old Rose was abused mentally, physically and sexually, she had to be removed from her abusive home.
Five-year-old Dwayne arrived at the home with Hepatitis B, three years ago. The fourteen minors are provided with 24-hour care at their new home. They are also home-schooled with remarkable results. One summer ago, Rose was unable to read. Now she is reading and spelling very well. All the children speak standard English, another testimony to the time invested in them by their new parents.
Of the several commendable characteristics of this home, one of them is the fact that they try to keep families together. "We don't want the children here to feel as if they are part of an institution, this home is here to give them the feeling of security, allowing them to be part of a family," says Penie Koch.
His foster daughter, Jody, who fled from her mother's boyfriend after her mother was arrested, was taken into the home along with her three other siblings. "They were not separated, because we wanted them to remain as a family," he added.
So too was 14-year-old Rochelle who was reunited with her younger sister when the home accepted her. Most of the children, if not all, are coming from a background of poor supervision; for the most part they raised themselves.
Each child living at My Father's House will testify about the new sense of responsibility and discipline acquired since the day they entered this safe haven. Each child's day starts with a chore chart. "Teens partner with the younger children to prepare breakfast," says Penie Koch. "If they don't get up and cook breakfast we all don't eat breakfast," she laughed.
According to Mrs. Koch it was difficult to assimilate each children into the home environment. The use of an established routine helped to do this. "The only way for them to survive is through discipline, and I don't mean punishment. Everybody has responsibilities."
The aunt of 11-year-old Rose, Valesea Simpson, is happy that the young girl is being looked after so well. "I wanted my niece to get a better life and better schooling. If I was not so old, I would be happy to live there. I am also suffering," she admits. According to Ms. Simpson, Rose is a brilliant child who will blossom into 'something good' if she stays at the home. "I visit there regularly and I see how the children are treated", she comments.
Living quarters
Who says that because a child is poor, that child should not experience all the good things that life has to offer? Here in Whitehouse, Westmoreland, where children from several poor homes have found a new home, the walls outside the seven-bedroom home could do with a paint job, but when the door opens, love welcomes you.
Inside, are well appointed, comfortable bedrooms that give off a certain amount of warmth and comfort. "A teenager sleeps in each room and has responsibility for that room," says 14 -year-old Rochelle Anglin, foster child.
There is a large swimming pool to the side of the house and all the children living in the home are encouraged to be swimmers. Even the smallest child, a one-year-old baby, is learning to swim. They are also all ardent cyclists and roller skaters. On any given day they can be seen in the community on their bicycles. There is also a furnished playground in the yard and a basketball court next door that they share with the rest of the community.
The 14 children are home schooled in three classrooms that are all equipped with internet-ready computers, visual aids, library and even a baby's crib. "There are children who arrive here and are unable to read at all, and that child must start out with the basic school curriculum, no matter what age they are," says Penie Koch.
The school offers a very individualised curriculum; reading is very much an integral part of their lives.
Rose, whose story reads like the little girl who lived with her wicked step sisters, says that she had great difficulties reading before she started living at the home. "I didn't know how to spell before I came here, I really appreciate being here." Speaking to a number of the children was very heartening, as most of them spoke proper English and were impressive conversationalists.
Help for My Father's
The home is dependent on sponsorship for its survival. My Father's House spends $25,000 per week for food, $18,000 per month for electricity and $4,000 on laundry.
Other costs include that required for maintaining the home. Annually, the approximate cost to run the home is a hefty US$50,000 or J$2.5 million.
Through the assistance of businesses such as D & Y Supermarket in Savanna-La-Mar which helps once in a while with diaper and groceries, and the Wildish family, owners of Jamaica Broilers that have been very generous towards their cause, they have kept their doors open.
The school's furniture was donated by Food for the Poor. Locals have been helpful, but the bulk of their donations comes from overseas. "We have some people who give us US$5.00 per month on a consistent basis," says Jim Penie.
Faced with the possibility of losing the place in which they live, the challenge of meeting recurrent expenses pales.
Even representatives of the local children's services division have joined the call to government to waive transfer fees on the property before the children lose their home.
Others who echo this call are locals who see the 'amazing' change in these children since they have been taken in by the Kochs.
Ann Lyons, owner of Culloden Cafe in the district told Outlook: "Jim and Penie are doing something for these kids that no one else would. These children simply slipped through the cracks. The sad thing is that there are hundreds more that need to be rescued," she said, commenting "Jim and Penie have saved these children's lives. They have made a real difference in the community. We need more homes like these, what we should do is to try to keep them open. What they are offering these kids is the type of life that every child is entitled to."
An important institution
I am Eletia Hyacinth McDonald and I have been employed to Children's Services Division as a Children's Officer from July 1, 1981 a little under twenty one (21) years. As with probably any other Children's Officer my age and with several years of service in this agency, I have had great dream for the improvement and the effective, if not classic operation of this agency. One of my great dreams, I have had, is for a Place of Safety or a half way home in Westmoreland.
The reality is that at 5 p.m. a person will walk into the office and inform us that a foster care placement has broken down, or a mother has left a child in the market, at an empty home or with persons who are not willing to keep him/her.
Just today at 4 p.m. a girl (15 years) arrived in Savanna-la-Mar with another girl. Having refused to enter into an intimate relationship with a man, her life has been threatened. Yes, the police are to take them to the Place of Safety but so often when the police is called, there is no vehicle to transport juveniles to the Place of Safety.
On a Tuesday, Thursday or Friday evening when this happens, there is nowhere to place these children. Children's Officer will have to travel to the Granville Place of Safety or Copse, Blossom Gardens or find accommodation out of their own pocket to sustain these children until Court day. A home that offers even temporary accommodation is needed.
The prospect of this is given by Mr. James Koch and Mrs. Penny Koch at South Seas Park Whitehouse, Westmoreland. I have known Mr. & Mrs. James Koch since 1998 when they first applied to join the Foster Care Programme of Children's Services Division. They have acquired a house for this purpose to care for children.
I have already used this accommodation by the Koch's to place a young Miss and her child (6 month old). She was offered accommodation and in addition a job and full time care for her child. She remained in this facility until her child was old enough to move on. At the moment Mr. and Mrs. Koch are foster parents for five (5) children who are placed from Children's Services Division. I have been in constant contact with this home and, I can say that this couple is interested in our children. They have always offered excellent care to the children that are placed in their care.
It is reassuring to me as a Children's Officer that there is a facility available in this parish which will willingly offer a temporary Place of Safety to our children at risk. I can just take up the telephone and ask Mr. & Mrs. Koch to assist us in whatever way we want, for the good and safety of our children.
I say all this to appeal to the higher authorities for their consideration in alleviating any burden that would hamper/impede the acquisition of this most welcome and useful place. In the long term, I would (also) recommend that a Children's Home Licence be granted for the more permanent use of this home. We love our children, we say, let us therefore do things that will help them.
I am, etc.,
Eletia McDonald (Mrs.)
Children Officer 1
Family Court, Westmoreland
Articles by Janet Silvera, Freelance writer
