Stories from our kids

George’s Story

My name is George*, I’m 15 years old. There was no money at home. My mother brought me up but she had a boyfriend who used to beat me. He beat and bullied her too. He made her go blind one-day when he beat her so hard. I worried about her.

I used to spend a lot of time on the streets begging for food, then I would go back home to sleep. I started Amasango when I was 9, I had to go into Grade 1, but now I am catching up. I’m in Grade 6.

There are a lot of people in town that know me, but I try not to go there anymore. There is nothing good about being on the street, it can get you into so many problems. If you don’t have money then you can break into homes and steal things and then that might get you into jail.

When I am in school I don’t think about town. Amasango gives me a lot of choices. It helps me choose to stay away from town. We all get food at Amasango. All the learners get food. We eat before school, at break time and after school. Mama Jane (the school principal) is trying to help us, she does not want us to go back into town, so food helps. Amasango also gives you clothes and when I am clean and wearing nice clothes, I can sit with my friends and feel happy.

Amasango has helped me with so many things. Education is a good thing for me. If I had never come here I would not know anything. I would have stayed in town and felt sorry for myself. Now that I have been at Amasango I can grow up.
When I am older I want to have my own things – I don’t want to beg. I want to help my mother and family. I want to have my own house and get married. I want to be a traffic cop. I see so many accidents and am worried about the drink driving. I want to stop it.
…I want to be a good man.

My name is Xole…

When I was 13 my parents were both unemployed and I became naughty and “rough” and started stealing. I stole to get food. I stole from neighbours and places in the township, sometimes mugging people. I went around with friends but I wasn’t scared to do what we were doing on my own. I got beaten and was hated by the people I stole from, but I didn’t care.

My father brought me to Amasango when I was 13 and I started Grade 3. At school I got food and education, I also moved into Exoluweni shelter. I had people to tell me right from wrong. I didn’t have to go around looking for food. I found people to talk to when I had problems, I felt I belonged. My friends on the streets started calling me names, saying I was a coward for leaving the street life and going to school.

Now I’m in High School and re-writing matric. I want to be a Social Worker, to work with people. I would like to go to University of Fort Hare or NMMU in Port Elizabeth. I wish to talk with Amasango boys and tell them my story and help them change. I want to buy a house for my parents and get a job and send my sister’s children to school.

Themba’s story

My father died when I was very young, my mother was unemployed. I went to the streets to beg for money for food and get money for drugs. I was 9. I got bullied for money by the other bigger kids who were also on the streets. My mother brought me to Amasango, but I left again. I came back in 2008, I saw kids my own age going to high school and getting on with life that made me want to change my life too. I have no regrets about coming to school it was the right thing to do. I play in the marimba band and sing in the choir and do gumboot dancing. I got a Bronze President’s Award and am working towards a Silver Award.

Amasango is GRAND. My life has changed because I don’t smoke drugs or beg anymore. I get food and clothes and I stay at Eluxolweni Shelter. There are people I can talk to and who look after me when I am sick. I want to study to become a lawyer. I hope to be a father one day and look after my family.

The names above have been altered to protect people’s privacy.