Educate a South African Child Experiencing Poverty

Christel House South Africa (CHSA) graduate, Taariq, shares his experience growing up in gang ridden neighborhoods of Cape Town, South Africa and how, despite the odds, he is now studying law at the University of the Western Cape.

Read his remarks below or watch Taariq share them with an audience at the 2016 Christel House Concert. http://christelhouse.org/our-stories/170/the-amazing-journey-of-taariq-salie/ 

“My name is Taariq. I am a CHSA graduate currently studying law at the University of the Western Cape.

At 6 years old, I started my journey at Christel House not knowing what lie ahead of me. I thought it was just an ordinary school, but as the years went on, I became aware of the positive influence the school had on me.

At the time, I lived with my parents and my two brothers in a shack with two beds and a broken cupboard. My mother was unemployed and my father was struggling to get work. But, I am happy to say, my father is a tailor now.

I come from a neighborhood filled with gangsterism, drugs and violence. It’s almost impossible for a CHSA student to say that they have never heard gunshots before, that their families are not getting destroyed by drugs or that they have never witnessed a murder before.

At the age of 11, I witnessed my first murder and just last week one of my childhood friends got murdered. I use these social issues as motivation because I know I have a school that supports my dreams.

Christel House has a structure that supports children's dreams, creates a vision for youth and helps students become self-sufficient citizens. The children in my neighborhood have no vision, no support and no guidance.

For children in public schools, finishing high school is a milestone—which should not be the case. Finishing high school should be the norm because education is a basic right every child should have. I am the only boy from my neighborhood that finished high school. I work hard every day because I know my parents never had the opportunities or education I have. Never mind education, my parents did not even have their basic rights. They grew up in the time of Apartheid where they were taught in a language they do not even understand.

Christel house is more than just an organization, but a haven for children, taking them away from their social issues.At the age of 19, I made it out of my neighborhood. Christel house got me an apartment at the University where I am safe and can focus on my studies. The only reason I go back to my old neighborhood is to visit my mom and show the youth that we can make something of our lives. It does not matter where we come from, but where we are going.

Christel House has staff members who are not only interested in teaching students, but also helping them build character—Christel House staff like our math teacher, Mr. Singley who sacrifices every lunch break to tutor students or Mr. Shaun who’s always there to give us guidance and advice when we need him. Both of these teachers had a huge impact on me because they were there to support me during difficult times.

Miss Christel, just by creating the organization, Christel House will act as a catalyst for thousands of good deeds being created by students. It might not be on such a big scale, but we will make a difference in our communities.

My plan for the future is to graduate and go into criminal law so that I can help the criminal justice system of my country. 

To everyone supporting Christel House, thank you so much. You are not only providing children with education, but changing our lives.

Thank you for listening to my story.”

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