AFTER 40 years of selfless dedication to vulnerable children, 1998 Public Service Medal of Merit recipient Wayne Jordan has been rewarded with a gift of security and comfort: a two-bedroom home for himself and his four grandchildren.
The home was funded by the non-governmental organisation the Children’s Ark.
“God is good!” Jordan exclaimed as he received the keys to the modest but comfortable home, built from two retrofitted 40-foot shipping containers joined by a covered porch. The new home sits behind the derelict galvanised structure where he lived for over four decades at Beetham Gardens, in Port of Spain.
“I’m so emotional right now,” Jordan said, fighting back tears on November 23.
The home is a short distance from the two schools he founded: the All in One Child Development Centre, a preschool, and Each One Teach One Special School, which caters to children aged four-16 who have been excluded from mainstream schools owing to extreme poverty, special needs, a lack of documentation or immigration status.
Jordan’s tireless efforts to care for the most vulnerable children won the admiration of Simone de la Bastide, president of the Children’s Ark, nearly 25 years ago – long before the charity was established in 2013. De la Bastide is the widow of former president of the Caribbean Court of Justice Michael de la Bastide.
Jordan initially ran the school out of a galvanised shed before moving to an abandoned concrete building, which provided a safer, more conducive environment for his students. The Children’s Ark, with assistance from the Army Reserve, later upgraded the school’s infrastructure significantly.
Jordan consistently prioritised the needs of others, often neglecting his own comfort and welfare, de la Bastide said.
About a year ago, when his roof began leaking profusely, Jordan contacted de la Bastide, asking for a few sheets of galvanise to patch it. But after visiting his home, the Children’s Ark directors decided to forego a patch job and committed to building a new two-bedroom house for him and his grandchildren.
The project was funded by the Children’s Ark, with assistance from the Costelloe family of Lifetime Solutions, who donated roofing materials.
Jordan’s efforts have previously attracted support from local and international organisations. In 2000, the UK High Commission and Women in Action for the Needy and Destitute (WAND) upgraded his school by installing essential facilities, including electricity and flooring. That same year, his work received international recognition when then-Prince Charles visited the school during an official trip to TT.
Jordan has also received several accolades for his contributions. In 1998, he was awarded the Medal of Merit (Gold) for his work in education and community service. In 2021, he was honoured by the Maharishi Institute of Science and Technology of TT for his "selflessness and continued dedication" to the children of Port of Spain.
As the principal of Each One Teach One and parent outreach facilitator at the All in One Child Dev
