Wards from the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), who are on the verge of becoming independent members of society, were recently armed with a surfeit of life skills by Massy Distribution Jamaica Limited. 

Patria Kaye Charles, marketing and corporate communications manager at Massy Distribution, noted that it is the company’s vision for all children transitioning from state care to be equipped with the tools to face the world.

“When you grow up in state care it’s hard to see your life beyond the walls of the institution. For many Jamaican people in affluent homes their parents are able to pay for the opportunities for them to do vision board with facilitators like Krystal and others like her, it is that very reason we sought to build a culture in which children and young people can experience a ‘normal life’ and have the same opportunities as their peers in the wider society”, she declared whilst reflecting on the day’s activities.

At the recently held workshop on the Massy compound in Kingston, thirty children focused on purposeful planning for the future and budgeting. Author and public speaker Krystal Tomlinson was facilitator for the vision board session. Tomlinson emphasised the importance of having a vision and turning it into a motivational reminder, 

“When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you to achieve it,” she quoted from Paulo Coelho’s book The Alchemist.

Tomlinson urged the young audience to ask themselves, “When I see my life one year from now, what do I want it to look like?” and to visualise their desires. “What we focus on, we create more of”. Inferring to the need for a vision board, Tomlinson further noted, “It is a powerful way to strengthen your intentions and guide you through the process of creating your own path to realizing your goals. The more you visualize and connect to the feelings behind your desires, the more you will attract into your life.”

Marcia Clayton Johnson, credit control manager at Massy Distribution, expertly tutored the attentive participants on how to take charge of their finances.

During the exchange, she highlighted the importance of learning how to manage money upon entering the workforce. She spoke on the principles of earning, saving, investing, spending and borrowing. As a practical aid all participants were gifted their first budget book to help manage monthly expenses.

Warren Thompson, director of children and family programmes at the CPFSA, expressed his gratitude for the workshop, now in its second instalment.

He intimated that “Putting children pirst is the only way we can improve the system to protect vulnerable youths by ensuring that we are equipped to help our children garner the skills, knowledge, training and experience they will require to step out confidently into our society.”

Thompson further added that “The well-being of the child should drive all decisions. It is the reason we are happy to work with companies like Massy Distribution who, at the heart of it, is trying to assist with enriching their young minds. This will, in turn, enable them to build a future where their dreams will become a reality.”

Since September 2021, as part of its ongoing initiative, Massy Distribution has stocked the pantries of CPFSA’s four transitional living spaces with basic food, cleaning and personal care items. Massy Gas has also outfitted several CPFSA homes, with cylinders of cooking gas. ‘

The Massy Group has also donated corporate attire to support job-seekers and sponsored individual counselling sessions for the young people, Monthly life coaching sessions featuring potential mentors, successful individuals, Massy staff and transformational peers also form part of the partnership.