-where the kids are as precocious as they come
SOME rationalize that the innocence shown by children is not an intentional innocence; children are innocent because they do not know any better. But that is not exactly so, and the children at Santa Mission are testimony to that.

A section of the Santa Mission community

Wherever you go, the innocence of children touches you, and at the Amerindian village on the Kamuni River, just off the Demerara in Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands), it is no different.

Children’s innocence is touching in more than one way and in Santa Mission, a small community of about 400 people, it is the first thing that jumps out at you.

“C-h-a-v-e-z,” a nine-year-old looks up, after sitting quietly contemplating whether he can speak to the stranger sitting next to him, and then finally deciding he can.

“That is my name. Chavez Luciano. I can’t spell the last one though,” the youngster said.

Once introductions are made, he goes on animatedly about how much of a nice place Santa Mission is.

Chavez said, “Santa Mission is a nice sandy place; it is nice to play,” he said.

He likes to go to school, he said, because he gets to read all the social studies books and  science books about plants he can lay his little hands on, as well as to draw “what my teacher tells me to.”

He has big plans for the future. “I want to be a solider to look after Santa Mission because it is a good place,” he said. “I will get to wear a hat and long pants like the soldiers I see. They got big bags on their backs, too.”

The community’s village office

Eight-year-old Merlene Patterson feels Santa Mission is a nice place that “anybody would like.”

She talks about life at Santa. “In Santa Mission, people do logging and farming. They hunt labba, too. People here live easy.”

Her dream is to one day work at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, because she’d like to think that “working at a bank is nice.”

The children at Santa Mission, while agreeing it’s as good a place as any to be, are not afraid of dreaming big, and hoping to expand their horizons, despite the many challenges they may face from day to day.

There are many adults, and teens too, who can take a page out of these children’s books. Yulanda Samuels, a 10-year-old, had nothing untoward to say about Santa, because to her, “it is home.”

Chavez Luciano	Merlene Patterson	Yulanda Samuels	Raylene Patterson

Anthony Ignacio	Shania Playter	Masamo Patterson

She elaborates. “Santa Mission is a special place; it is beautiful, lively and nice. I am with people I know here, and they are all nice,” she said.

She wants to be a nurse when she grows up, so that she could remain in her community and improve the health of her fellow residents living there.

One of several homes spread across the small community of 400 inhabitants

Then there is 11-year-old Raylene Patterson. She, too, wants to be involved in the health sector. She wants to be a doctor.

The first to touch on the challenges of life in the community, young Raylene said: “Santa Mission is not all good, but it is not that bad… It is home, and I love it.”

Long ago, the notion was that children should be seen and not heard, and while there are some instances where this is still the case, the general concurrence is that children are very aware of their surroundings, and the challenges that are present.

The 11-year-old’s acknowledgement is testimony to this.

We also spoke with nine-year-old Anthony Ignacio. Though not as bold as his female counterparts, he was able to overcome his shyness long enough to say what he aspires to become. “I want to be a doctor,” he said.

Bolder, yet unsure of herself, eight-year-old Shania Playter said she had not yet made up her mind as to what it is she wants to do.

For the time being, she stuck to the basics. “I like Santa Mission because I can come to school,” she said.

The old community primary school

All set to prepare the next meal

Thankful for the small privileges that others sometimes take for granted, in simple words, Shania made it clear that life should be lived for the moment; a moment that we should be grateful for.

At seven, Masamo Patterson stuck to simplicity. “Santa Mission is nice, and when I grow up, I wa
nt to work,” he said.

Work, something we all do at one point or the other. A little work, and a little play; enjoy life, and reduce the complexities of living to something simpler.

Altogether, a talk with the children of Santa Mission had simple truths to tell, many that are often overlooked as people get caught up with the everyday routine of life.

The opportunities in other places are not exactly like the ones in Santa Mission, but all the same, the children there, blessed with much potential, and having much to say.

They are willing to learn, grow, and realize their potential, but more importantly, they are willing to teach us something.

Adults have more information in their heads, but no more intelligence than children.

Children are not only innocent; they are full open to life… and there is something to be had there. (Photos by Vanessa Narine)