PETRUS VISITS THE HOMESTEAD

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.