Latest update February 11th, 2025 4:18 AM
The King’s School – providing a haven for vulnerable children
Nestled in an area best known for agricultural cultivation and livestock rearing, the King’s School,
Members of the Brooklyn Tabernacle with some of the students of the King’s School at Yarrowkabra, during one of their annual visits to Guyana.
which is located at Block 8 Section H, Yarrowkabra Agricultural Layout, seven miles from the Linden/Soesdyke highway, continues to serve as a haven for street and other vulnerable children.
According to the school’s Principal/President Glennis Smith, the King’s School is a branch of a sanctuary – a “Not for Profit” Christian residential home for children who have been victims of the social and moral decay.
Smith, a remigrant of the Unites States of America recalled that God gave her the vision to care for vulnerable children long before the school was established in September, 2006.
Over the years, Smith says that the school has been committed to making a difference in the lives of street children whom she considers “diamonds in the rough” or “veiled treasures,”
Their work is based on a mission statement “to provide a place of refuge and an environment of love, hope and acceptance where street and other vulnerable children can grow and develop mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.”
“I recall that Lord gave me a vision to love and care for these kids and therefore I returned to Guyana (Myself and Husband) and we began the process of starting the school where we house, nurture, educate and give these vulnerable children a better chance at life.”
She said that with help and financial support from the Brooklyn Tabernacle which is based in New York, the school has blossomed “into something special.”
The institution has been a shelter for dozens of street children. However the actual school has a current population of twelve students, ages four – fourteen years-old.
“We have a non-discriminatory policy at our school. We have students who come from different ethnicities and cultures living under the same roof. We have as staff of four qualified and experienced teachers who offer courses in basic academic subject areas. Their time spent here represents the well needed stability for our children.”
Describing their experience at the school, some of the teachers told this newspaper that “life at the sanctuary is very challenging and rewarding.
They said they are privileged to serve at the facility and witness the transformation of the youths to the beautiful, rounded individuals God intended them to be.”
Smith said that the school has managed to serve the sparsely populated community at Yarrowkabra and achieve success with the students, some of whom have advanced to other learning institutions such as the Sophia Training Centre, the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GTIC), the Guyana Technical Institute, (GTI) Carnegie School of Home Economics, and the University of Guyana.
She noted that most of the students have done well in their studies; one even graduated with credit from Carnegie.
In addition to offering academic courses, Mrs. Smith said that the students are tutored on the various aspects of life.
“It is our aim to teach and expose them to the basic tools which assist them in living healthy normal and happy lives. We conduct courses in basic etiquette, public speaking, art and craft in addition to teaching them how to rear poultry and pigs and about banking. We even opened several early savers accounts on their behalf,” Smith explained.
She said that the aim is to have the children exposed by taking them on tours to various locations in the country and the Caribbean.
“ We find that most of our students better understand what is being taught to them in practice rather than theory so what we do is visit places like, Parika, Mahaicony, Kaieteur Falls and even Suriname because it is a threefold experience for them. They learn, have fun as well as get the exposure they need.”
She says that the school has partnered with a number of persons and agencies, who have assisted in financing the special projects.
“We taken the children on tour at a number of places in the past and we want to continue to assist the children, and influence and affect their lives in a direct way and with the help of our partners locally and overseas we hope to do so for years to come.”
The principal reiterated that the School does not discriminate and admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programmes, and activities generally accorded to students.
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