Success Stories

“I am a product of the United Neighborhood Network Association (UNNA). The reason for me stating this is because I consider UNNA to be a main contributor towards my success along with other factors. UNNA had been in my life for a total of six years. Throughout this duration this association provided me with emotional, motivational and financial support.

UNNA first came into my life back in 2009, at the end of my primary level education. It was during the heights of celebrating my placement into the best high school in my parish, The Bishop Gibson High School for girls, that I was informed by my teacher that I was selected to receive an award for being the most outstanding GSAT performer in the community of Resource. I was excited, but at the same time a little puzzled because I didn’t consider myself smart enough or intelligent enough to receive an award of this nature. But I guess others are always able to see in us what we can’t see in ourselves.

That award was an eye-opener for me. I started to view myself differently, started to believe in myself a little bit more and also realize that I had the potential to be great, but acting up on the realization was rather hard for me.

However UNNA became more involved in my educational financing in my second year of high school after a tragic event happened in my life. My mother suffered from a mental disruption and destroyed everything that we owned. Everything including clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, school equipment and even some parts of the physical structure of the house was destroyed.

Somehow, by the grace of God, the tragic news reached the ears of the current president of this association, Mr. Aeon Mitchell and his wife and other members of this association and they decided to step in to assist me. From then until July of 2015 UNNA took responsibility for my educational financing, a gesture that I truly appreciate and am ever grateful for, because only education can elevate one from a state of poverty, and UNNA sought to help me elevate myself, and I truly respect that.

In the minds of the members of this association they have only helped me financially to pursue my educational goals, but in reality they have done more than that:

You the members also fed a family, my family – often I found myself saving for rainy days from the money I received weekly. It would often turn out that this same money was able to feed my family.
You’ve schooled a family, my family – this same rainy day savings from my lunch money was also used to send my younger siblings to school when my parents were unable to find the resources needed to do so.
You have prevented me from failing – often I felt like giving up, giving into failing, letting go, but then I always remembered there are hardworking people in America working in the hot sun, in the cold, in the storms and investing their hardworking money in me – I couldn’t let you guys down, I had to hold on.
You supported my dream – because of UNNA I am where I am today.
You’ve inspired me – every time I walk on the streets and see someone less fortunate than I am, I always try to help them, if someone is begging, I try my best to give, even when am broke. This is because I learnt from this association the importance of giving, because giving is receiving so I often share my blessing with others.

I graduated from Bishop Gibson High School with a certificate of Credits, and also obtained ten (10) CSEC subjects, six (6) of which are distinctions and the remaining four (4) grade two’s (ii). I then moved on to DeCarteret College where I did five (5) Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) subjects and passed all five obtaining three grade two’s, one grade three and a grade 5. I am currently in my first year at the University of the West Indies (UWI) studying for a bachelor of science in nursing after which I hope to get my master’s degree in nursing to be able to specialize in midwifery, psychiatric nursing or nurse anesthetist.

Because of UNNA I have reached this far. Thank you.”

(Student’s name is withheld.)

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Date: Sat, Jun 28, 2014
Subject: Re: Pratville Primary & Infant UNNA Awardees

Mr. Mitchell,

I must congratulate you on your association’s work towards the improvement of education and community development in South Manchester. We are very grateful to have you as partners with us in the education of our students. Our students are indeed motivated by this award and we are sure that it will assist them greatly as they prepare for High School.

Below are the names of the two students who are recipients of the GSAT Award sponsored by the United Neighbourhood Network Association (UNNA).

Davine Bailey (Manchester High School)
Jeffrey Thompson (Manchester High School).

Yours truly,

Lanzeford Howell (Mr.)
Principal