Over nine years ago, when Ed and I first made a visit to Lyndale Girls’ Home and Swift Purscell Boys’ Home, two orphanages located in Highgate, Jamaica, we found living conditions bleak and attitudes hopeless. At the girls’ home we found 30 young girls, ages 6 to 18, were sleeping on holey mattresses, no sheets, pillows, curtains or color! Soap, toothpaste and towels were decidedly missing. All wards of the state, these young girls arrived at Lyndale from various backgrounds of neglect, abuse and abandonment. At the boys’ home we found 75 orphaned boys packed into a small cinder block dormitory with only 2 toilets and 2 showers for all 75 boys. The physical needs for sheets, towels, hygiene products, clothing and shoes were the same as the girls, but the numbers were much larger. For both homes, the need for doctors, dentists, optometrists and psychologists was overwhelming.

On our first work trip to the orphanages at Highgate, Ed and I went alone. We worked tirelessly alongside the girls to create a happier living environment. With painted walls, new mattresses, curtains, sheets, pillows, towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste, clothes and shoes, the home and the girls began to look a little happier and more hopeful. Ed and I returned to Colorado happy at our accomplishments but overwhelmed at the much-needed work ahead. As we told our story to friends, neighbors and our church family, we were amazed at how many people we knew wanted to volunteer to come along and help. This group of volunteers has grown, culminating in 28 volunteers joining us in a mission trip in February of 2008.

At the boys’ home, the staff shared the urgent need for a dormitory/bath house. We broke ground six years ago and with the help of many donors and volunteer labor, the structure is now complete. This addition added six toilets and six showers and added sleeping space. Many benefactors including Couples, a Jamaican Super Club, made this addition possible. With the addition of the dormitory came more boys, and two years ago the numbers topped 100 orphaned boys at Swift-Purscell.

The need for professional assistance became apparent at both homes. Doctors and nurses, dentists, optometrists, and psychologists joined Ed and I in our vision. North Fork Valley students volunteered their labor along with many adult construction workers to execute great change at the homes.    

Once the basic needs at the homes were met, we faced the greater challenge of creating opportunities for productive futures for these young girls and boys. As these kids reach the age of 18 and are obliged to leave the home, they need the tools to create a future of hope for themselves and the land they love. The dream of Jamaica Outreach has become to promise all girls and boys leaving the orphanages the career training of their choice.

Pam and Ed Bliss, Coordinators
3131 Clear Fork Road
Crawford, Colorado 81415 USA
Tel: 970.921.5641 Fax: 970.921.7477

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jamaica Outreach Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with a public charity status.
All contributions are tax deductible.