“It felt good, it was one of the best time of mi life, everybody a support me… Mommy reacting was kind of embarrassing.” Smiling, Shavary recalls his triumph after being named Top Boy at the Grade 6 Transition Ceremony. He also collected several other awards, a testament to his hard work and determination.  

Shavary and his mother also delivered a heartfelt testimonial that inspired everyone present at our recent Milestone Celebration.

At Christel House, Shavary continues to excel academically despite the difficulties he faces at home. Like many of our students, his living circumstances are far from ideal. His mother, Onica Buchanan, shares that she doesn’t allow her boys to go outside because of the dangers in their community. “Because we live in a garrison area sometimes dem hear things dem nuh fi hear and it cause them to panic.” The violence and gunfire often leave Shavary shaken. “One night Shavary couldn’t sleep and I had to sit up with him.” 

Still, Shavary describes himself as competitive and persistent. Though he admits feeling disappointed when he doesn’t reach his goals, giving up is not an option. He smiles as he adds that his mother never allows him to skip tasks, keeping him accountable. 

Shavary began his Christel House journey in Grade 2. Now, as a member of CHJ’s first Grade 7 cohort, he is eager to explore new subjects like geography, technical drawing, and industrial techniques. He has always loved math, but robotics has quickly become his favorite. “Like what we do inna di class — parts of a robot, how to build one, guidelines, (they) gave us tools to build robots and we built the base of it.”  

As the eldest of three brothers, each enrolled at Christel House, he says he tries to help guide them. “Sometimes mi worry about them. One is a war boat, and the other can’t keep his mouth and always getting in trouble.” Shavary feels protective and also helps with their homework. 

His path to success has not been easy. Before Christel House his parents divorced when he was young. “I was always in fight and causing problems, I was in one group, one gang, and always skip class.” He recalls being shy when he first arrived, so he poured his energy into his work. Shavary says now he feels more confident, and less depressed and more fit, because he no longer skips PE class. 

He went on to attribute some of his Grade 6 academic success to our Academic Booster program, funded by American Friends of Jamaica. The Saturday sessions prepared students for PEP. “Without them mi wouldn’t have done so well in my exams.” 

When asked what he loves most about his mother, Shavary quickly replies, “She always a try push me, even though the pushing can be a bit much, she always try for me to do my best. She cares about us.” 

Onica, in turn, is grateful for Christel House. She recalls how growing up, she and her sister had to split the days of the week at school. “If it was a case for me to be finding lunch money to send Shavary every week, trust me I couldn’t find it, I couldn’t afford school fee.” She also praises the school’s transportation program. “I’ve seen on the news where kids having taxi man take dem weh or even bus lick dem down. Trust me, me couldn’t imagine myself going through that none at all.” 

Despite these challenges, she proudly notes that her sons have all improved since joining Christel House. And Shavary, with his easy-going smile, looks ahead: “Mi want the future to pick what it wants for me… maybe be a CEO, have a wife, three boys, and live in big house.”