Support Children Orphaned by Aids in South Africa

With everything going on during the pandemic, the most vulnerable become the most forgotten...

“My name is Kgotatso and this is my story…

 My parents died when I was only 10 years old. Then my grandmother took care of us until she passed away. We had no one else. So at 16 years old, I became the head of the household. I had to take care of my sister and brother –  putting food on the table and making sure my siblings were ready for school every day.

Before granny died, I wanted to be a Social Worker because I love helping people. But I had to drop out of school to look after my brother and sister.

Every night, they expected supper. They were hungry. We were all hungry. I didn’t know what to do because we just didn’t have any food. They cried every night. It hurt me. 

So I would build a fire while they waited. Then I’d bring a pot and start to boil the water. I pretended to prepare their meal, and just kept boiling water…  until they fell asleep. 

One morning, someone knocked on the door. I opened it and there was a lady… just standing there smiling. Tebogo works for Starfish and said that she had heard about our family. She said she had come to help. I didn’t know what to say. I felt like she was saving us.

She started to bring us food every month… and she even brought us school uniforms and arranged my paperwork so that our family could get a support grant.

Because of her help, I could go back to school. She's like our mother now... I know that she is there if we need anything.

I’m so grateful that Starfish came into our lives. I honestly don’t know what would have happened to us if they didn't. Now every night, we have a real supper… we all go to school… we are not forgotten.

I can be a kid again.

Links:

• Starfish bringing hope and happiness to children.
• The most vulnerable become the most forgotten...