At three years old Zahere Barrett’s mother was murdered, his father on the run after police named him as a suspect; but with the help of their grandmother and a handful of kind-hearted supporters, he and his siblings have picked up the pieces of their shattered lives.

Soft-spoken and well-mannered, Zahere, now 11, will start Vere Technical High School in September. His sister Ijayne, the eldest of the four siblings still living in Jamaica (two others live overseas), was head girl at Achievers Multipurpose Resource Centre, a private secondary institution. She graduated with seven Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects and now attends Excelsior Community College in Kingston. Jowayne, who is 16 years old, is waiting to get the results of CSEC exams while 14-year-old Samali is in high school.

Their grandmother, Arlene Campbell, took them in after their mother, Karen Rainford, was beheaded in Hamstead Park, popularly called ‘Back Bush’ in East Kingston in February 2014. The police later appealed to her common-law husband, 39-year- old Desroy ”Hopeton” Barrett, to turn himself in as he was wanted in connection with her murder. The Jamaica Observer has been unable to get a further update on the case but Barrett, who was still on the run two years ago, is not in his children’s lives.

With no parents to turn to, Campbell knew it would be a financial struggle to care for her grandchildren; but she also knew she had to be there for them.

“When dem mother dead mi tek dem. Mi never know weh mi did a go do with dem but mi take them, and mi glad fi dem. Zahere was a baby at the time, only three years old and mi never even have space fi put dem but mi take them anyway,” she told the Observer.

-The Jamaica Observer

Arlene is also seeking funds to purchase some material to complete her house that is currently under construction. She is very grateful for any help she may receive and any contribution will be beneficial towards her grandchildren and constructing a more comfortable space for them.

An estimate of USD 20000 will assist greatly in her situation.

Thank you.

This campaign was created on behalf of Arlene Campbell and the main details of her story is a copy from her interview report with [The Jamaica Observer] in which she has granted Real Helping Hands (RHH) the  privilege to publish.

To read more on her story visit: https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/grandma-caring-for-siblings-after-mothers-murder-needs-help/