Life Changing Stories

Cleopatra Francis: Paying it ‘Forward’

It was 1992 that Cleopatra got involved with JAMAL, from which the Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning owes its genesis.

Dismal is how Miss Francis describes her life prior to her involvement with the institution. She credits the institution for having helped her to dramatically turned her life. “I knew what I wanted so when the opportunity came I took it and it turned my life around,” Francis says.

Miss Francis who resides on Pound Road in St. Thomas currently works with the Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learner as a field officer within thee parish. 

She credits her involvement with the program for taking her from unemployment to being not only employable but having a job.

Miss Francis is the mother of one. Her daughter is now 21 years old and is presently pursuing further studies after high school. As a result of her involvement in the programme Miss Francis was able to play a more involved role in her child’s education. “I was able to assist her even during high school.”

Francis encourages persons who are in a similar position to the one she had found herself in prior to her enrolment not to be fearful. “Don’t be afraid of anything. Know what you want. Be bold, go out there and get it. Don’t be intimidated by others. Some of the persons who may try to deter you, often times are persons who need the programme themselves.”

Zurie Johnson [PR Intern, 2008]