Our story
A Torch Lit in Jamaica That Is Destined To Burn Across The Globe
What began in a little community in Kingston Jamaica in 1993, is evolving into a global mission- rooted in community, sustained by family, and driven by the belief that every child deserves a chance to live their best life.
Our non-profit story started with a man with a passion to improve the lives of
less fortunate kids in his community of “Waterhouse” located in Kingston Jamaica.
This passion he had for the upliftment of children in his community , resulted in the establishment of an event that would inspire the joy that comes especially to a season of the year , the joy of the Christmas season.
On Christmas Eve 1993, Clive Oliver Solomon, known to everyone as “Salla” would gather a team of boys and adults together, sweeping the streets and painting the sidewalks , transforming an area of the community into a colourful spectacle that would mark the arrival of Christmas, a time that the children would eagerly anticipate with much joy and childish enthusiasm.
This colourful fun-filled preparation , culminated in the hosting of a Christmas treat held annually on Christmas Eve, where Clive became the children’s local Santa Claus. In addition to rides and music, every child receive notebooks, pencils and rulers, because to Clive, a gift without the promise of a future, was’t much of a gift at all.
His aspirations was as simple as it was radical; every child deserves an education, and he intended to do something about it.
The Community of Waterhouse was not an easy place to grow up. Crime casts a long shadow on the very face of it. And for many of it’s children , hope was likened unto a luxury that was’nt forthcoming, even to the most volnerable within the community. Clive refused to accept this crude reality as the norm. Though he was not a wealthy or powerful man, he has something that proved more valuable than either.
He possessed a genuine unshakeable love for the children around him, and this strong conviction that their circumstances should never be their destiny.
When Clive passed in 1995, the Solomon’s family made a committment to continue the work he started. They kept the Christmas Treat alive year after year, as both a tribute to the man , and a promise to the community he had loved so fiercely.
In October of the year 2000, they took his vision further, officially lauching
The C.O. Solomon Children’s Charity, where The C.O.Solomon’s Scholarship Program was also established. This to create real, lasting educational pathways for children across Jamaica’s innercity communities.
As the years passed, the mission kept growing, and will now extends it’s reach beyond children. This with the establishment of an Annual Health Fair , geard towards serving, not only the elderly and general population within the community, but extending it’s operation to communities across Jamaica, and eventually across the the globe. The mission will also expand into programs built around sports, cultural awareness, and daily living skills.
Today the C.O.Solomon Children’s Charity is a US Registered Non-Profit, empowering the Solomon’s Family to raise funds and build partnerships from the shores of the United States. This will champion a new cause that is not limited to Educational Scholarships and Christmas meals initiated within a community in Jamaica, but will be extended to the less fortunate internationally.
Clive Oliver Solomon
Clive Oliver Solomon was born on April 10, 1959 in Kingston Jamaica.
He was born to the parents of Mr. Gladston Solomon, and Mrs. Ina Solomon. He attended the Seward Primary School where he graduated and enrolled in the Penwood Secondary School located in Olympic Gardens in Kingston Jamaica. With the passion to serve his country, he enrolled in The Jamaica Constabulary Force, where he served for 20 years with much honour and distinction.
After retiring from the Police Force, he found his new passion
to love and care and protect the community in which he lived. The love and care he had would eventually rest in those he cared for the most, the less fortunate children within his immediate sorrounding. He served this passion until he passed in 1995. His memory lives on in The C.O.Solomon Children’s Charity, and ultimately in our hearts.
Thirty Years of keeping the promise
1993
1995
2000
2005+
Today
Our Mission
Our Vision
