This Incredible Jamaican lady has provided for over 32 children but wants to do even more!

Annmarie Richards is a model Jamaican citizen.

It is rare to come across someone who has such a strong desire to help others while expecting nothing in return.

She has cared for over 32 children and has devoted her life to finding homeless children, raising them as her own, and giving them new opportunities.

Annmarie shared some struggles she has faced in her life and plans she has to do even more for the those in need with The Jamaican Blogs™ .

Have a read below:

THE STORY OF MY LIFE BY ANNMARIE RICHARDS

My name is Annmarie Richards. I was thrown into a situation when my parents separated after my mom migrated to Canada. My father was not able to handle this and became an alcoholic.

I was then thrown into the wild turbulence of instability and confusion but my life changed when a teacher by the name Ruby Teape intervened at grade 2. She was an angel sent to guide me. She told me “I am special” and I believed her. That changed the course of my life. I decided that I was going to duplicate that action when I was older.

Fortunately for me I married a wonderful man that was grown up in a stable environment and he has been a good husband and father. He bought into what I had now seen as my Mission in Life and our home became a place of Refuge for the needy children and young adolescents.

Sometimes we took responsibility for a whole family. Since 1993 when I moved to May Pen, Clarendon we have had over 32 children who have shared space with us as FAMILY.

As a family we did this out of pocket for years. We wanted it to remain personal and close to our hearts. We did not want it institutionalized. We use the “Person Touch Approach”. This became very costly and many times we could not do what was necessary.

In 2011, I was at a cross roads, about to lose my property which had now formed a part and place of rescue for many and money was tight. I was Obese and suffering from Diabetes, my husband was suffering from Diabetes, Hypertension and Cholesterol Issues. Someone introduced me to Unicity Products and the Make Life Better Foundation. Their Mantra the Chairman and CEO Stewart Hughes has been “To Make the Lives of Millions around the World Better. Ninety days to foreclosure, sick and having many looking to me for help caused me to do the unthinkable.

I used the last money I had earned including borrowing a portion to join the Make Life Better Movement and I am so glad I took the risk. It has in fact made my life better.

As an individual I have sought help for these children and their families from business entities, agencies government etc to no avail. When I became a part of “The Make Life Better Movement” I decided I will do this on my own. Everything I sell or share with persons all over the world I get a percentage to help me and my family keep a roof over our heads and gives us the opportunity to stretch a helping hand to someone else in need or someone needing a second chance to Shine.

The video by Goboka and Make Life Better Foundation was made to help us find ways to reach more children and families so we could be sustainable and more impactful.

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Thank you for taking the time to share my story and showing this interest in what we do.

OUR VISION AND MISSION – KIDS CAMPUS FOUNDATION

The Kids Campus Foundation – Stars of Hope Community Outreach is a Social Intervention Programme working as a Community Based Organization in the parish of Clarendon.

This programme seeks to provide and identify alternatives to youths and their families in general by creating and facilitating opportunities that will engender a positive, productive healthy and creative lifestyle.

Our aim is to make this programme a sustainable one that will foster job creation, healthy self esteem and cultural and civic awareness in our communities.

This programme is primarily geared to give second chances to children and adolescents who are at risk and give parental guidance, counselling and training to parents of adolescents as well as adolescent parents themselves with an aim at making their family life, sober, productive and stable.

Since hosting over thirty two children in our home we have expanded to offer life skills training, enrichment and self development programmes, family life education and entrepreneurial training to adolescents, adolescent parents, and youths and children between the ages of 6- 19 years in the parish of Clarendon. Extended activities are also used to help families get back on track with heir lives.

The Vision we hold is the commitment to transforming lives and communities by fostering productivity and creativity thus lifting the standards of excellence in Education, Community Development, Self-Development, Family Relationships, Healthy Lifestyles and Social Development.

Please donate whatever you can to help her continue to provide for disadvantaged children in Jamaica. You may contact her using the numbers below:

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