“We have to show appreciation to all the people who have so much love for kids, that they do what they have to do for the kids.” DJ Colayshan
Popular radio personality Shurma St. Clair, widely known as DJ Colayshan, has described her recent interview with Anisa Schrader of Anisa Schrader Charitable Funds (ASCF) as “one of the most memorable yet.”
The interview took place earlier this week at Real FM’s studio in Castries, following a recent donation by the charity to the Holy Family Children’s Home in Saint Lucia. The conversation centered on the needs of children and the various areas in which some lacked the necessary care to thrive.
“Children aren’t all on the same level,” St. Clair started, noting that this meant there was need for varying levels of care. The host then asked about 25-year-old Schrader’s daily experiences managing her charity.
“When I launched two weeks ago, the first place we decided to donate to was the Children’s Home,” Schrader said. “Going there, it made me feel so good. I felt so good just being around the children, seeing where they live, seeing what happens on a daily. I’m happy that I contributed to a place like that because I know the funds will be well spent and everyone will be well cared for.”
She continued, “I believe children need opportunities. Many of them do not have that due to financial constraints. A lot of kids don’t have the proper homes or the proper environment. I want to help create that for them. I want to be the person people can run to for help for the kids, because I believe the children are the future. They are the investment. They are the ones we should be investing in if we want a brighter future for ourselves.”
The connection between the host and the guest stemmed from their shared love for children. They had a real ‘lightbulb moment’ when they explored a common expectation related to who should offer assistance and the manner in which it should be provided.
“People always say, there are people with money who’re not helping,” St. Clair shared. “But… you see it here. Even if it’s as big, or as small as you can give, there are people who are helping… when people sit and say this person or that person isn’t helping, people help. Some people just don’t make it public that they are helping.”
St. Clair was curious to learn what it was like for Schrader to be at the home and meet the children, some of whom had been abandoned.
“Did you wonder, where are their moms?” she asked. “Where are their parents? What happened? Why is this kid there? It feels good to give, but after you give, don’t you sit there and think, oh my…”
“I do,” Schrader nodded. “But here’s the thing. When I gave to the Holy Family Children’s Home, I met up with Sister Antonia. She’s the one who takes care of the children. Just meeting her, I learnt so much. She is so loving… it kind of eliminates me thinking about the parents so much because I know she’s pouring out her love to them. I know they are cared for.”
“We have to appreciate people who help children,” St. Clair emphasized. “People who take up a child with all of their heart. It doesn’t have to be a situation where the child is without or their parents lack. You just pick up kids and you love them, so much. We have to show appreciation to all the people who have so much love for kids, that they do what they have to do for the kids.”
Regarding her next steps, Schrader noted: “I already have an idea of where I want to go. Since I did the children, I want to focus on the elderly. I was thinking of an elderly home. There are a lot of elderly people and some of them, their families have given up on them. For others, there is no one to check up on them. They can’t get the things they need. We donate essential items in some cases, but the majority of our donations are monetary.”
As the interview winded down, the host concluded by saying, “This interview goes down in the books for me. Typically, you see older people doing stuff like this. Here, you have a young woman stepping up and saying, this is what I want to do.”