Help Some1

26 SOUVENIRS KATE VAN DYKE, RIVERTON CITY, JAMAICA

HELP SOME1 BY KATE VAN DYKE

For the past seven years, I have traveled to Riverton City Jamaica, a landfill community outside of Kingston. I return each year to spend time with the incredible friends I’ve made there. The bonds I’ve formed with many of the Jamaicans I met in Riverton are some of my deepest and strongest friendships. I’ve had the privilege of becoming close with Stefan Dezonie, a 28-year-old mother from Riverton. Stefan has always been a role model to me, as she always knew she wanted to impact her community from a young age, despite her own personal circumstances.

Here is her story.

Dezonie grew up in Riverton City, of which around 12,000 people reside. As a young girl, she was inspired to start her own organization, so when she was nine, the seed for her organization, Help Some1, was planted. Dezonie’s inspiration came from her mother, Claudette Hoilett. Hoilett’s mother died of cancer when she was 12 years old, so she was forced to take care of herself. Dezonie recounted that her mother was scorned and abused in school because she could not afford lunch or to pay school fees.

“I wouldn’t want that for anyone else,” Dezonie explained.

“Therefore, I have decided to help the less fortunate in my country which includes children, disabled and elderly persons.”

As she grew up, Dezonie emphasized that her parents’ teachings of generosity and selflessness helped mold her into the courageous woman she is today.

“My family didn’t have anywhere to go and that was why we had to live in Riverton where living was a bit more affordable,” Dezonie recounted. “I can remember that they started working a very small income, as my dad was driving a garbage truck, and yet they realized that people in the community were struggling to eat and were worse off than us. My parents then agreed on making soup and porridge every weekend for people who wanted something to eat but couldn’t afford it. My mother would always say, ‘Bless someone from the little you earn and it will make more room for joy.’”

Dezonie emphasized how her mother’s words have always stuck with her, and she continues to live her mother’s teachings today. Through her nonprofit, Dezonie and Hoilett work directly with the people in their community, aiming to give them hope and support. As she continued to positively impact people, Dezonie was encouraged to register her organization as a nonprofit in Jamaica—Help Some1 was registered in 2018.

When the organization got off its feet, she began to request donations to sponsor children’s education starting at the kindergarten level. Dezonie and Hoilett want to help children in situations similar to Hoilett gain a strong education to set them up for success.

“I HAVE

LEARNED THAT IT

ONLY TAKES

A SPARK TO

GET THE FIRE

GOING.”

“Just to see the smiles on people’s faces whenever I help them gives me a warm and loving feeling in my heart,” Dezonie said. “Just to know I can help someone feel better about themselves—just to let them know that it’s not about where you’re from, but where you are heading.”

Not only has Help Some1 impacted the Riverton City Community in numerous positive ways, but it has also impacted Dezonie herself as well.

“Watching a single mom walk out of depression when we helped her start her own small business really impacted me,” Dezonie explains. “That made me realize that there has always been a lot of greatness in me. Greatness that I was ignoring. And I have learned that it only takes a spark to get the fire going.”

To learn more about this non-profit organization, visit their Instagram: @help_some1. Anyone can donate through the Cash App, by tagging the name $StefanDezonie.