“Is a deep-rooted psychological issue, bad man or Don get praise, [yuh] nuh really see communities a praise people weh do good ina school” – Oroy Campbell
Spanish Town, St. Catherine was Jamaica’s first capital during 1534-1655. The parish is popularly known for its affiliation with gang violence; there are many assumptions of persons who reside in Spanish Town. Some of these communities, because of the nature of events that occur there such as gang wars, scamming, and robberies, are classified as volatile. There are persons from said communities who aspire to be more than just a product of their environment but to put themselves in uplifting positions to elevate their social status while they aim for success.
In this story, I introduce to you, Oroy Campbell, a twenty-seven-year-old entrepreneur who was born and raised in the community of Tawes Meadows in Spanish Town, St. Catherine. Campbell can be described as the flower that blooms from a garden of thistles and thorns. He is a retailer of phone cards who describes himself as spontaneous, analytical, thoughtful, kind, and self-driven. Refusing to be a part of the problem but to bring about a change in the narrative, here is Oroy’s story:
Which primary and high school did you attend?
Spanish Town Primary School and St. Jago High School
How did you start selling retail phone cards?
I would always scroll through IG and one day I saw a post about the possibility of phone to phone merchandising.
What influenced the need to be an entrepreneur?
The need for elevation. I always wanted to make something out of life.
What would you say you are passionate about?
Mostly helping people and learning new things. I love volunteering.
Has your community influenced your personality?
Yes and no.
Why yes and no?
Yes, because of the way I walk and talk and I love dancehall music which is highly influenced by my community. No, because of my mindset, people in my community don’t really value education for social mobility.
What is valued in your community?
Everybody want fi get rich quick suh dem tek part ina illegal activities
Do you see yourself making a change in the community?
Not so easy, I can only like be a medium for change; everyone in the community and the politicians would need to come together and do a massive sensitization in order for there to be a change.
How do you believe this can be done?
By forming a club or society within the community to be an advocate for change.
Who would be the target group and why?
I would target adults between 25 – 55 [years] because of the length of time that they would have already lived in the community; they could influence the younger generation positively because the younger ones look up to the older ones.
Do you believe that one day there will be a change?
Deh question deh deep enuh (Laughs).
It is not impossible but things won’t change until Jamaica changes. As weh Kartel seh:
“People just need money an dem nice”
So do you think money or the lack thereof is the root of the problem?
No, but it contributes to the problem. The youths need education so dem can make better choices; if resources are distributed evenly across the country then everybody can be lifted from poverty and be in a position that is better than they were before.
Thank you Oroy for sharing your story!
We all have the willpower to write the stories of our lives. We are in control of our destiny and it is okay to go against the status quo, the stigma attached to our communities does not always define who we are. Regardless of social status and community background, we have authority over our lives to aim for what we want and turn our sails to go in a direction of positivity and success. Don’t be afraid to go against the norms of your environment, it only takes a spark to get the fire going; take that step, be that spark, aim for your dreams and change the narrative.
