Rays of Hope appeals for support to end cycle of poverty in Alex
Rays of Hope appeals for support for its programme and projects around child-headed households in Alexandra.
Rays of Hope, an NPO that has various programmes and projects in Alexandra, is appealing for support for its child-headed households as a way of ending the poverty trap in the township.
This is the message from Bertha Maringi, a family and social services leader at Rays of Hope. She strongly believes that the cycle of poverty can be stopped in Alexandra if the child-headed household can get the necessary support to ensure they become self-sustaining.
She said the lack of guidance and love from a parent or adult has its own perils that often lead to long-term trauma and emotional scars but Rays of Hope is determined to ensure this does not happen to children in Alexandra.
“Unfortunately, many children born into poverty and challenging socio-economic conditions are forced to endure this reality. These children are vulnerable, and often forced to become parents and breadwinners long before their time and give up their childhoods as a result,” Maringi said.
One such child is Lerato, who lost her mother when she was just 14 years old and knows all too well the devastating effects of growing up in a child-headed household. She became the sole breadwinner for her older sibling, Thando, taking on the responsibility even though she was younger.
The absence of a parent caused her to struggle greatly, leading her to fail all her subjects at school and eventually drop out a few years later after falling pregnant. Maringi said teen pregnancy is, unfortunately, often a consequence of parentless homes.
But Maringi said all is not doom and gloom. “It’s crucial that we take a sustainable approach to help those living in previously disadvantaged communities. Rays of Hope is one organisation that is working towards changing the narrative of poverty for the people of Alexandra.”
The NPO met Lerato’s family when she was 19 years old and started to support them physically and emotionally and were even able to offer Lerato her first job and a means to provide for her family, thereby stopping the poverty cycle in its tracks by moving them from vulnerability to independence, and Lerato now works for Rays of Hope.
Through its various programmes, like the teenage boys and girls support group, workshops dedicated to helping parents be better parents and the counselling centre, Maringi said the organisation is striving to make a positive impact from the grassroots level.
Maringi has appealed for sponsorships for the child-headed households which are under the care of Rays of Hope. “People can help by giving children in child-headed and vulnerable households the chance to have a different future.
Details: www.raysofhope.co.za
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