The Homestead

The boys get beanies from Gogo Magic

2010-05-24T02:15:00.000-07:00

Ashley Hayden brought the children beanie hats knitted by grandmothers which they loved!!

We break the ground for the new building in Khayelitsha - 21st May 2010

2010-05-24T02:04:00.000-07:00

Ashley Hayden, actress and our Master of Ceremonies; Peter Cropper, Trustee of Dame Hilary Cropper Charitable Foundation and our Lead Donor; and Mansoor Mohamed, Executive Director of Social Development City of Cape Town and our Campaign Patron at the ground breaking ceremony on Friday 21st May 2010. A momentous moment in The Homestead's history.

The Mayor of Cape Town, Dan Plato, Councillor Kotyi of Khayelitsha, Ashley Hayden actress and MC and Peter Cropper of the Dame Hilary Cropper Charitable Foundation, our lead donor

The Homestead staff having a proud moment at the ceremony

The Homestead Intake Shelter Needs List May 2010

2010-05-14T07:40:00.000-07:00

Approximate costs are in South African Rands - Every little bit helps us to meet the monthly budget!
Activity Room: 3 stackable tables for children’s recreation @ R3,200 each
Activities: Punching bag for boxing (anger management tool) @ R600
Activities: Fold away table tennis table @ R3,000
Net, brackets, 6 bats & 6 balls @ R360
Activities: Soccer boots x 14 pairs @ average price R300 ea
Repainting: Dining room R4,000
Recreation room R2,000
School fees: BEST Centre annual fees R1,400 x 3 boys
Art materials: Clay, plasticine, paints, paint brushes, paper, pretty paper for thank-you cards, glue, scissors
Stationery: Exam pads, files, printer cartridges, pens, envelopes, printing paper
Kitchen equipment:
Dishing spoon
Tin opener
Spoons x 20
Big pot (Stainless steel)
Garbage bin
Broom (inside, soft)
Broom (Outside, hard)
Clothes for boys and youth up to 16 years: T-shirts @ R35 each, anything and everything!
Linens:
35 towels @ R45 each
35 fitted sheets @ R75 ea
35 pillows @ R50 each
Cleaning supplies:
4 dishwashing liquid @ R30ea
20 Skip washing powder @ R24
4 Domestos @ R16 each
4 Handy Andy @ R24 each
Toilet brush
Medical and hygiene supplies:
10 toothpaste @ R7 each
10 deodorant @ R15 each
4 petroleum jelly @ R15 each
4 rolls plasters @ R24 each
4 gauze swabs 100 mm @ R15
3 Savlon antiseptic @ R20 each
1 x 48-pack toilet paper @ R75
Food:
7 sugar 5 kg @ R34 ea
5 rice 2 kg @ R20 ea
8 polony 1 kg @ R16 ea
10 cooking oil @ R13 ea
10 mealie meal 2 kg @ R13 ea
10 oats 2 kg @ R19 ea
16 soya mince @ R8 ea
15 margarine @ R6 ea
40 milk @ R6 ea

Upcoming ground breaking ceremony for the new Child and Youth Care Centre in Khayelitsha

2010-05-13T07:24:00.001-07:00

News flash! We are ready to start with Stage One of the new building project - the residential care centre. Here is the invitation to the sod turning with a local artists's impression of the final Centre. Ashley Hayden of Survivor SA will be the MC, and our lead donor, Dame Hilary Cropper Charitable Foundation, will be represented by Peter Cropper. The Mayor of Cape Town, Dan Plato, will reprsent the City. More news afterwards!!!

The best event ever!

2010-05-13T05:43:00.000-07:00

The Homestead Events Committee held the most fantastic jazz lunch on Sunday 18th April at the Table Bay Hotel to raise funds for the extension to the Intake Shelter. Many, many thanks to Carla Antoni, Anneline Bacon, Winnie Bowman, Aimee Graaff, Wendy Green, Vicky Hide, Tammy Hirschsohn, Tshepo Modies Harvey, Margaret Sarembock, Dagmar Schumacher, Lushana Tyga and Annie van Wyk who all worked so hard to make this event the success that it was. What a beautiful event and an amazing achievement in terms of funds raised.

Here are some pictures for the record!

The stunning room at the Table Bay Hotel.

Beautiful decor and programmes

The lunch was presented by outstanding chefs from "The Leading Hotels of the World". Dallas Orr from Table Bay Hotel, Malika van Reenen from Cape Grace Hotel,
Michael McIntyre from The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, Nick haszard from One and Only Cape Town. In the centre is Andrew de Bruin, a former Homestead boy and now a pastry chef at the Cape Grace as well as a wonderful husband and father!

Jazz musicians Buddy Wells, Feya Faku, Mark Fransman, Wesley Rustin, Jonno Sweetman and Graham Beyer

Accompanied by the fantastic voice of singer Melanie Scholtz

Renowned artist Paul du Toit, who creates a phantasmic world from his forest of symbols and colour. Paul gave his time to create paintings together with some of the children especially for this event.

Irit Noble, comedian and motivational speaker, made a very amusing Master of Cermonies (and sang a beautiful song too)! Here she is introducing Paul du Toit before the silent auction of children's art. Paul gave his time to work together with some of the Homestead's children to create joint paintings. He is a passionate supporter of vulnerable children.

There were also some wonderful and moving paintings done by the children in art therapy with Shadi Ganz.

Some examples of the artworks created.

The best auctioneer you have ever seen - Ariella Kuper of Auction Alliance. Ariella volunteered her time and skills to auction the 16 amazing items donated so generously by companies, artists, jewellers and individuals.

Ariella raised a record amount of money for The Homestead at the auction.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this best event ever.

Ashley Hayden plays Survivor S.A. Santa Carolina for The Homestead

2010-05-05T04:13:00.000-07:00

For several gruelling weeks, this well-known South African TV personality underwent very difficult conditions on the Mocambican island in order to try and win as the ultimate survivor - with a prize of R500,000 for the charity of her choice.
On the right is Ashley in her stage persona.

On the left is Ashley during Survivor!

She played the most amazing strategic game, always with the children in mind and with the goal of raising this money for The Homestead.

We attended the nail-biting Finale in Johannesburg on 21st April, where Ashley was voted best player by the general public, but unfortunately voted out by her fellow players who she had outsmarted during the show, using various strategies. In fact, Ashley played like a street child - using her wits and manipulating others to get what she needed!

During her gruelling stay on the island, the Homestead Director sent her this letter to encourage her to continue:

24th November 2009

Dear Survivor

Thank you for choosing The Homestead, which helps the most vulnerable and damaged children in our society. Thank you for recognizing their strong will to survive. As you are struggling to survive now……….

When things are tough, don’t give up. Remember that street children have been through just as much pain as you. Think of them sleeping on hard pavements and doorways with no shelter from the rain, heat or cold. Think of the hunger always, always gnawing at their stomachs. They feel dirty, and smell dirty, but they can’t wash. Most of all, they suffer because they don’t have love and protection and adult guidance. Think of how hollow their hearts must feel.

Street children are not only running away from awful situations of neglect and abuse – they are also running towards people who can help them. You are one of those people. You give meaning to the hope in their hearts that some day someone will care enough to help them. You must survive – for the children!

Because if you win, your contribution will go toward the Child and Youth Care Centre we want to build in Khayelitsha next year. This centre will accommodate 75 boys who were living on the streets but are now in The Homestead’s care, back at school, learning to respect themselves and other, learning that it is safe to love and be loved, learning how it feels just to be a child. The Centre will help hundreds of boys over the years to come. And it will stand as a monument to your will to survive.

When you feel that you cannot go on, remember that we are with you. There are 100 boys in The Homestead’s care today. That’s 100 hearts singing for you, 100 spirits surrounding you with love, 100 voices cheering you on, 200 arms around you, 200 hands holding you up.

Don’t give up. Survive as street children survive. Do it as your legacy to children who are hurting but who can be healed. We’re so proud of you.

On behalf of all The Homestead children and staff

Sandra Morreira
DIRECTOR

Ashley said that this letter helped her to keep going when she was feeling really low. As a result of her achieving second position in Survivor, Ashley won an amazing R200,000 for The Homestead. We also received R20,000 from Liquifruit and R10,000 vouchers from Pick 'n Pay. And she isn't stopping there! She will be attending the ground breaking ceremony for our new Child and Youth Care Centre, and has lots of ideas to raise more money for the building.We still need another R1.5 million to build the Early Intervention Centre and Community Hall.

Thank you, Ashley, for your amazing personal contribution to our work with street children. You will help to change many lives over the next years when the centre can provide quality developmental care to the children.

HOMESTEAD INTAKE SHELTER WISH LIST - July 2009

2009-08-20T01:02:00.000-07:00

The Bridge at Elukhuselweni Children’s Home.

What: Bath Towels
Supplier: Kolnicks or Colibri Towels
Cost: 60 towels @ R50.00 each = R3000

What: Books (Guinness Book of world records, novels).
Supplier: N/A
Cost: N/A

What: Bread Baking loaf pans
Supplier: Shoprite, Pick n Pay etc
Cost: 5 pans @ R99.00 each = R495.00

What: Curtains for staff bathroom (standard bathroom size) & kitchen. (Yellow/blue colour scheme).
Supplier: Ackermans or Pep Stores
Cost: R1000

What: Dvd Machine and action dvd’s
Supplier: Hi-Fi Corporation, Game or Pick n Pay
Cost: R500.00

What: Kitchen Utensils: Very large (stainless steal). 2 x spoons, Egg lifter
Supplier: N/A
Cost: N/A

What: Knifes and Forks
Supplier: Shoprite, Pick n Pay etc
Cost: R400.00

What: Pillows
Supplier: Kolnicks
Cost: 50 pillows @ R29.99 each = R1500

What: Seedlings and seeds (vegetables and flowers)
Supplier: Any nursery
Cost: content

What: School stationary: (Pencil cases, crayons, sharpeners, erasers, scissors, calculators, glue & dictionaries).
Supplier: N/A
Cost: N/A

What: Socks
Supplier: Pep Stores
Cost: 60 pairs @ R15.00 each = R900

What: Toys (monopoly, dominoes).
Supplier: N/A
Cost: N/A

What: Underpants or trunkies
Supplier: Pep Stores
Cost: 60 pairs @ R29.99 each = R1799.40

What: Water Glasses
Supplier: Shoprite, Pick n Pay
Cost: 30 glasses @ R10.00 each = R300

HOMESTEAD INTAKE SHELTER WISH LIST - July 2008

2008-07-29T06:40:00.000-07:00

Lounge Benches: to replace foam cushions and cover with washable synthetic leather
Door Bell Cover: to replace current cover at front entrance
Electric Fence: to be repaired
Panel Heaters: to be installed in the following locations: 1 in TV Lounge; 1 in FRW's Office; 1 in SW's Office and 2 in the Dinning Room. Approximate cost per heater: R350.00.
Basketball hoop and hook for punching bag
Office Equpiment: 5 office chairs and 1 lockable filling cabinet
Digital Camera: to take publicity shots of the boys
Basic tools for tool box
Games: Monopoly, Compendium, Dominoes, DVD's (educational and recreational) and activity books
Stationery: Clay, Plasticine, Paints, Paint, Brushes, Paper, Pretty Paper for Thank You cards, Glue and Scissors
Kitchen Equipment: 20 Spoons, Iron and Wooden Ironing Board
Clothes: for boys and youths up to 16 years of age - 50 Beanies at R20 each and 35 Tracksuits at R150 each
Second hand clothing: for boys and youths up to 16 years of age
Linens: 30 towels at R45 each, 30 fitted sheets and 30 pillows at R50 each
Needed Monthly - Cleaning Supplies: 4 Dishwashing Liquid at R30 each, 20 Skip Washing Powder at R24, 4 Domestos at R16 each and 4 Handy Andy at R24 each
Needed Monthly - Medical and Hygiene Supplies: 10 x Toothpaste at R7, 10 x deodorant at R15, 4 x Petroleum Jelly at R15, 4 x Rolls of Plasters at R24, 4 x Gauze Swabs 100mm at R15, 3 x Savlon Antiseptic at R20 and 1 x 48-pack Toilet Paper at R75
Needed Monthly - Food: 7 x 5kg sugar at R34, 5 x 2kg Rice at R20, 8 x 1 kg Polony at 16, 10 x Cooking Oil at R13, 10 x 2kg Mealie Meal at R19, 16 x Soya Mince at R8, 15 x Margerine at R6 and 40 x Milk at R6
Needed Monthly - Handyman for Repairs

GLUE TO GOALPOSTS - How sixteen street kids turned into soccer stars

2006-10-10T06:29:00.000-07:00

Years of sniffing glue had so badly affected their bodies that some of the boys looked like rag dolls flapping across the football field. Six months later the same boys were striding it out, blocking and striking with agility, strength and confidence. Such is the power of nurture.

It is little wonder that Mandela asked to see the sixteen street kids who, in under a year, have transformed from hapless, homeless glue-sniffers into fine young players in a fine young football team that will be flying to England on Tuesday for a two-week football tour.

Called the Homestead Team, many of the boys in the side were literally straight off the streets. Others had left the streets some time back and had been living in the Homestead children's home in Khayelitsha on the Cape Flats.

“It's been very hard, very tough and very daunting but we've done it,” says the team's coach, Craig Hepburn, who played for Pirates in the eighties and who has been involved in development football in the townships around Cape Town for the past ten years.

“The reason the boys looked like rag dolls when they first joined the programme is because glue attacks the central nervous system and destroys whatever co-ordination or powers of concentration they might have had.”

Couple this with abandonment, abuse and a life on the streets and you've got a bunch of kids who have had huge trauma in their lives.

“These are the lucky ones, it's incredible to see how they've pulled through,” continues Hepburn. “The boys meeting Mandela and getting on that plane to the UK are unrecognisable from a year ago. Today they are fine, disciplined football players, every bit up to the schools they'll be playing against in England.

“Some of the players are showing such potential if they continue to get the right training and guidance they could one day make the national side. That's our aim: to have a kid from the streets selected to play for South Africa.”

All sixteen children have been off the streets for a minimum of a year and are living at the children's home. This was a prerequisite to them being considered for the team.

“Our whole approach is not just about a football tour, it's about taking the boys to higher ground from where they can build lives for themselves and lead the way for other street kids,” says Gerald ‘Langer' Jacobs who co-ordinates the Homestead's street outreach programme and shelter.

The Homestead is a 23-year-old NGO running seven Cape Town-based projects for street children.
Jacobs is one of the driving forces behind the Homestead football tour, in collaboration with English football coach, Michelle Potter. Potter is part of a UK-based coaching outreach programme called ‘Coaching for Hope' and has been living in Cape Town for over a year, helping to raise sponsorship for the tour and to coach the Homestead players.

The Homestead focuses exclusively on boys (the majority of street children are boys) while a sister shelter called ‘Ons Plek' attends to the girls.

“The reason there are more boys on the streets is because boys are generally more arrogant and stubborn than girls; the boys believe they can survive on the streets, begging or stealing or both. Girls are more inclined to seek a way out for themselves through prostitution,” says Jacobs who is a known and trusted figure on the streets of Cape Town. From the CBD to Woodstock to Camps Bay to Sea Point he has worked with street children for the past four-and-a-half years. During this time he was nicknamed ‘Langer' by the street children because of his height.

“Getting these boys off the streets is not just a matter of ‘Hi, come with me',” he explains. “You have to get to know them for them to vaguely start trusting you. At which point we start encouraging them to drop in at the Homestead's shelter in Woodstock where they can get a meal, a shower, clothing and some care.”

A year ago Jacobs started telling the boys about the football tournament for street children the Homestead was organising and that if they were selected they would be trained to go to the UK on tour.

“Word got out and slowly, slowly they came to us, until we had 100 kids participating in the tournament, including several of the 65 kids who were already living at our home in Khayelitsha.”

Fresh off the streets was 14-year-old Samson who had been living on the streets since the age of seven. (The Child Care Act prohibits the publication of any of the children's surnames)

When Samson first arrived at the shelter he was filthy and draped in layers of ragged clothing to fend off the cold. “He'd been in and out of reformatories and was extremely aggressive and strong-willed. Street kids have to be like this to survive and defend themselves,” adds Jacobs.

“He was one of the hardest kids we've had to handle. If he didn't get his way it would be a stone or a brick and he would not submit to authority at all.”

Samson has transformed into one of the best players in the side, a striker with a natural eye for the game.
“He's still one of the most difficult boys and he's still angry but he's shown huge improvement. For him to have stayed with us for a year is a major success. It's given him time to work through some of his issues and to learn to deal with situations in a variety of ways other than with aggression and anger.”

Handling a complex group of teenagers, Coach Hepburn is strict on the field.

“What we've tried to do is create a team where discipline and respect is key. We've had to teach the boys they have no right to verbally or physically abuse anyone. If they misbehave on the field they go straight to the bench and cannot return until they sort themselves out.

“It's about teaching them what it is to be part of a team; that it requires contributing to team spirit and supporting each other. It's about understanding that no matter how good a footballer you are, you will make mistakes and you need your fellow players to encourage you, not abuse you.”

The boys practise for two hours twice a week and play matches on Wednesdays against various school sides – from private schools to reformatories.

Every Saturday they attend workshops at the Homestead where they develop their communication skills and explore their self-worth.

“We speak about negative and positive communication and we talk about the language of communication on the field – whether it is better to use English or Xhosa. For the tour the boys decided on a mix so that the English players cannot understand their game plan,” smiles Hepburn.

“We also speak what it means to be a street child and how people regarded them when they lived on the streets,” adds Jacobs. “It takes a long time for the boys to stop feeling people see them as dirty and worthless.”
The turnaround hasn't been smooth and seamless. At the beginning of the year a couple of the boys were caught sniffing glue. “We didn't expel them but we taught them there are consequences for poor behaviour,” Jacobs explains.

“They weren't allowed to play football for a period, they had to do chores around the home and they were excluded from the ‘reward initiatives' we offer the boys. These include giving them a soccer jersey or cap for best performance or taking them for a restaurant meal. Fortunately this hasn't been a major problem and the more fit they get the less inclined they are to sniff glue or abuse their bodies in any other way.”

Glue, he explains, is more of a psychological addiction - a “chemical blanket” to take away the cold and the pain of living on the streets. This chemical blanket is replaced with an emotional blanket when they start experiencing a sense of belonging at the Homestead. “Coming off glue is not the major hurdle,” says Jacobs. “It's the deep-seated self worth damage that takes a long time to heal.”

The boys heal in different ways. Sixteen-year-old Nelson, the captain of the team, has been living at the children's home since he left the streets at the age of eight. He built his self-worth through football and a form of kickboxing called Muay Thai.

He's played football for Western Province Schools and is the junior amateur South African Muay Thai champion. Training under South Africa's world Muay Thai champion, Quentin Chong, he has a powerful role model and is respected by the other boys for his strength and achievements.

Nelson is also the only boy in the team who has ever flown in an aeroplane or been overseas. He represented South Africa in Thailand in May this year where he won a bronze.

“Thailand is beautiful,” he says. “What I liked most about it is that you can walk in the streets there without worrying about danger.”

Vice-captain Ayanda (16), a highly intelligent boy and an exceptional football player, came to the home several years back. “When he first came off the streets, he was depressed, introverted and prone to untruths,” says Jacobs. “Today he is a transformed character; he is open, communicative and has strong leadership qualities. He encourages the little ones and he stops fights in the home. He doesn't even look like the same boy.”

The boys can remain at the home until they are 18. To prepare them for adulthood, the social workers at the home intensify their life skills programme, get them into job shadowing or help them to apply for scholarships.

“Thebe Tourism – one of the main sponsors of the football tour – has helped our older boys tremendously,” adds Jacobs. “They get them to shadow people in all their associated companies – from their boat company to tourism to curios retailing.” The person the boys all dream of shadowing now is David Beckham.

“With the right guidance and opportunity some of them have the potential to become professional soccer players,” says Hepburn. “But what deeply concerns me is the lack of opportunity and infrastructure at grassroots level. There is so much talent right across the country but the politicians and football administrators aren't doing nearly enough about it.

“As development coaches we go to the South African Football Association (SAFA) for assistance but there are no formalised coaching course standards we can follow. Neither is there any development framework we can slot into or some official form of payment. We sometimes get payment from sponsors, mostly we coach on a voluntary basis.”

SAFA's mission statement as the governing body of football in South Africa stipulates that it is ‘committed to promoting and facilitating the development of football through sustainable infrastructural and training initiatives'.

Yet when you go to their website www.safa.net and click on ‘Coaching', all it says is ‘No coaching information found. Please check back soon.'

“ We're having the world cup in 2010 but millions of our children don't have even have a field to play on,” states Hepburn. “Children from the Cape Flats are playing soccer on the verge of the N2 highway, right in front of the airport. They train here at 4pm every day with cars driving past at 120 kilometres per hour. There have been many deaths. I think this is proof enough that we have to get back to our roots and invest in our communities and our townships.”

“Hopefully the street soccer project has helped to set an example of what can be achieved,” adds Jacobs. “It's very difficult to rehabilitate street kids but as we get on that flight to England we know this project has been a success. We're not saying the boys are all going to become professional players or doctors and lawyers; we're just showing what a little bit of love and attention and investment in grassroots can achieve.”

Anyone interested in sponsoring development clinics should contact Craig Hepburn on:

grturtle@mweb.co.za

STREET SOCCER STARS MEET MANDELA

2006-10-10T02:07:00.000-07:00

On Friday morning sixteen boys woke up with one thing on their mind. They were getting on a plane at Cape Town International and flying to Johannesburg to meet Mandela at his office in Houghton.

Mandela asked to see the boys, all former street kids who in one year have turned their lives around and formed a fine young football side called the Homestead Team. They are set to fly to England on Tuesday for a two-week football tour.

“I know Cape Town very well because I stayed there for 24 years,” Mandela smiled as he welcomed the boys. “I stayed at a place called Robben Island.”

“Now tell me how are you?” he asked, to which Gerald Jacobs, the boys' 25-year-old street outreach officer from the Homestead street children's project replied:
“They have all been off the streets for a year and more and are now attending school, playing good football and living at the Homestead children's home in Khayelitsha.”

“That is good,” Mandela replied. “One thing you must realise is that in the present world you cannot take up a position of leadership without education. So you must work hard on your books and make sure you pass,” he encouraged as he spoke to each boy in turn.

“What does Thandisizwe mean?” he asked one of the boys, “It means ‘love my country',” Thandisizwe shyly replied.

“Oh that is good, that is accurate,” Mandela smiled.

After spending some time with the boys he bid them farewell saying: “I am grateful to you for coming here and changing my life.”

The boys broke into excited chatter after the man they'd all been waiting to meet was guided from the room.

“I feel so happy and excited,” said Lerato. “I feel that my life is also going to change now that I have seen Mr Mandela. I am going to concentrate on my school work.”

“My life was upside down when I was on the streets,” commented Elvis. My message to other street children is that they mustn't give up.”

“Those who chase their dreams, get their dreams,” said Nelson who was named after Mandela and who is the captain of the Homestead Team. He is the only member who has flown before. This former street child is now the junior amateur South African Muay Thai champion (a form of kickboxing). He represented South Africa in Thailand in May this year where he won a bronze.

“I'm very proud of myself. I have forgotten about the streets and now I have met Mr Mandela,” said Ayanda, the vice-captain of the side. “Mr Mandela was the one who was fighting for us, for our freedom and education. I thank him very much for this.”

Note: The boys' surnames may not be mentioned because they are living in a place of safety and are protected under the Child Care Act.

GERALD'S LETTER

2006-08-01T02:13:00.000-07:00

Hi Sandra,

Hope all is well. Sorry that we can not keep in touch, our schedule has just been so busy that we come home exhausted, having to feed the boys and see that everything runs smoothly.
Anyways it's been both amazing and challenging being here. I didn't think that it would be this demanding. I have however learnt a lot from the time spent here. I would like to give you a summary of the things we have done thus far but it's such a mouth full. Ayanda is fine and since then we had 2 patients which I had to take to the hospital. Two nights ago it was Jonathan with ear problems that kept him up all night and last night it was Thandisizwe who was feeling a bit dizzy but he is fine, sugar levels were low.

Anyway they watched Stomp, which was very exciting and the boys absolutely loved it. They played a development side of professional team called Tottenham Hotspurs. They lost the game 4-2 but it was a fair result. The boys they played against were humungous and the coaches were very impressed with our boys and their discipline. They want to do something with The Homestead next year because they are thinking of coming to South Africa next year. They are working together with ABSA. They also visited the ground which has a capacity of 60,000 and got to see the ground and go in the dressing room of the home team which was amazing for them. Saturday they played a tournament in Regents Park . They had the eyes and ears of everybody. The people were once again very impressed with the discipline and politeness.

Anyway they reached the semi final and lost on penalties. Thulisile won a beautiful trophy for player of the tournament. The winning team was the team we lost to but after the game they came to us and gave us the winning trophy because they were so impressed by our boys and their attitude. FANTASTIC! I was very proud of them and they really stood out amongst the English brats. They were really rude to myself and Craig and the boys were very tempted to lay in a few punches...but we managed to contain ourselves.

We were also invited to one of Michelle's friends for supper which the boys loved because she had so much entertainment. They also watched the England game after that. Yesterday they went to the David Beckham Academy which is very very very big and we were the first group from Africa to visit them. They were very impressed with the boys and the coaches and physio were very helpful. David Beckham's physio even had some time to see to 3 of the boys which was bizzare!

The facilities were amazing and they boys got some kit as well.The food was fantastic and the boys really enjoyed the day. They sang for all the coaches at the academy and did their little gum boot dancing which the staff was thrilled about. They are also coming out to South Africa and would be keen to meet us again. One of the boys, Sandile (the best on the trip so far,) got an invitation to see Brazil play Argentina at the new Emirates Stadium in London . He was over the moon.

Today we went to see another Premier league team train. We were not allowed close to the players and were standing very far from them. Then the manager of the team came over to us and welcomed us and invited us onto the circumference of the field. This is unheard of! Afterwards they donated more kit to the team. The boys have gone out tonight to see Billy Elliot. On Thursday they are visiting a school and on Friday the Harrodian School event happens. I met Peter and his wife again on Friday and the booklet looks very nice. We are watching a live game at one of the richest clubs in the world... Chelsea on Saturday.

As I said it's been overwhelming yet challenging. I must admit that it is very difficult to manage everything but Michelle has been great in getting everything organised. Roles and responsibilities have been a problem but Charmaine and Miemie is being a great help and they are really making things easy for us. I don't know whether my 10 days leave is going to be enough but I am looking forward to looking after Gerald again.

We have been in contact with Chelsea and the Football Association in England who organised us the tickets for Saturdays game. They want to donate a whole lot of money to the Homeless World Cup and because we are playing the exibition game they want the boys to go the field in front of 60000 people and accept the cheque on behalf of the Homeless World Cup. I think Mel Young will also be present. So that is also great news for the boys and great that we could have played a role in this.

Anyway that's a wrap for now. Thank you for the support.

Regards from London ,
Gerald.

PETRUS VISITS THE HOMESTEAD

2005-02-08T02:10:00.000-08:00

Petrus voted with his feet at age 12 by coming to the streets. He had a dream- to be a policeman- and The Homestead helped him to reach it. Now 26, he is a SAPS officer. He could so easily have been on the other side of the law if he wasn’t given a chance.

Most Street Children are like Petrus. They leave home because the situation there is intolerable, and they believe there must be another way to survive. We have all seen these children – dirty, ragged, picking through dustbins. They have been subjected to degrees of neglect, deprivation and abuse that we can only guess at. Yet, despite it all, they remain just children, with their dreams and aspirations and the strength to try and reach them.

The Homestead has helped hundreds of Street Children to rebuild their shattered lives over the last 22 years. Like Petrus, many have achieved success in adult life. If there were no organisations working with these children, the likely alternative is that they would end up in prison. Their options diminish as they become older, without skills and values. The Homestead’s projects help boys to get back into the educational system, and back into the community where they come from and belong. Their own pride in their achievements is reward enough for all those who help them.