In Search of “Angie”
Four years ago, I visited a group of homeless youths in Downtown Kingston to get first-hand data on their economic and emotional struggles.
The company was submitting a tender to Save the Children Fund UK (International grants) to initiate a protection programme for homeless Jamaican youths.
We met seventeen-year-old “Angie” – living in an abandoned building with younger people. Angie had run away from home at 15 years, tired of being sexually abused by her mother’s partner. She knew her mother was aware of the crime but had kept silent.
At the time we met Angie, she was working as a prostitute, but said she was tired of going Uptown at nights. “Sometimes de man dem give me the right money,” she remarked. “Some a dem waan gimme bulla because dem know seh mi a street gal.”
Angie used the proceeds from her “trade” to feed and clothe the younger ones. Two of them were still in school and she tried to keep them there. Three others, a boy and a girl, sold items such as Wriggles, peanuts and “icimint” at the bus stops.
“Mi coulda tek the money and try find one yaad fi myself,”Angie told us. “But mi seh I mi do that, dem nuh have nobody. Mi nuh waan dem fi go do what mi a do, mi get used to it. And a nuh just de girl dem. Nuff bwoy get mad affa dis (become emotionally distressed from prostitution). Some a dem nuh have the nature but dem haffi live (they are heterosexual, but have to perform homosexual activities to survive”
Well, we kept in touch with Angie and one of her young charges for about two years after we made the film to submit a part of the Save The Children Fund UK. Unfortunately, we were not short-listed for the funding. The last time I spoke to her, she said she was moving back to St Thomas.
I will try and locate her again, a person who inspired and protected those around her, despite the circumstance she herself had been thrown into.
Bless up, Angie!
By Neo Makeba
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