Students of the Victor Dixon High School in Mandeville rendered selfless service to the aged and indigent last week.

During two days of community service, the students visited several homes for the aged and the Manchester Infirmary.

For 17-year-old Tanya Scott, a grade-11 student of the Adventist-owned institution, "the experience was motivating".

"I'm very happy I got the opportunity to help those elderly persons," said Tanya. "As an individual, I felt motivated. It is good to see the smile on their faces when a young person comes and talk to them and listens to their story. It is something I would love to do again and again."

According to Orchid Smith, principal of Victor Dixon High, "Our aim is to foster the values of compassion, caring, sharing and service in our students."

The buzz of excitement rever-berated off the walls of the school as the students prepared to visit the various places. It was the first time that the whole school was involved in an outreach activity of that nature, though students from grade 11 had done similar programmes.

Students and teachers brought clothing, toiletries and food items from their homes, which were all packaged at the school.

Over 14 needy institutions were visited, including children's homes, the Manchester Infirmary, nursing homes and homes for the aged.

The students who were separated into groups conducted devotion, presented gift baskets and got their hands dirty by getting involved with painting, cleaning of windows, doors and floors.

They also took the time to groom some residents of the facilities.