Mother’s encounter with homeless youth sparks movement of hope

Hearing first-hand accounts about the struggles of those living on the streets was the motivation behind Tumie Masolane’s desire to help others.

The Brakpan Central resident is the visionary behind Village of Hope, a non-profit organisation, aimed at giving hope to those in need.

Explaining how the organisation came about, the 44-year-old shared that she was part of a group of mothers who, in 2018, took their teenagers to the streets to expose them to homelessness in an attempt to warn them about addiction, after the youngsters were caught experimenting with alcohol.

While it was not her idea, and Masolane affirms that homeless people are not life lessons, she went along and found herself surprised by the outcome of the experience.

“We spoke to homeless boys and young men, who we found to be talented and educated. They started with cigarettes and then dagga and when these were no longer strong enough, they moved to alcohol and it was all to numb the pain.

“Our children were listening and we asked them if this is where they wanted to see themselves? But the most surprising part was that I fell in love with the people on the street.

“No matter how much they told me about how their parents had rejected them and had given up on them, it drew me closer.”

This experience helped Masolane realise her purpose and she undertook her first project in December 2018. Village of Hope was officially registered as an NPC in March 2019, and then registered as an NPO in November that year.

It is run by Masolane and a small group of board members. All efforts are funded personally by the team. The organisatiton is based on the Bible verse Isiah 61, paraphrased by Masolane as “The spirit of the Lord is over me to deliver the broken hearted”.

The NPO runs three programmes, namely Youth Mentorship, Second Chance and Wenzekahle (well done). Masolane has appealed to individuals and businesses to partner with the organisation in order to make a greater impact.

The Youth Mentorship programme targets children in grades five to nine.

“We talk to them and try to equip them with how to handle peer pressure at school, how to behave if someone is introducing drugs to them, those type of things,” said Masolane.

“We also look at their confidence. Families are not equal, some children have and others don’t. Sometimes maybe their shoes are torn or their jerseys have holes, and their peers mock them.

“There is a saying that “If you can’t beat them, join them” and that’s what happens to those children being mocked.

“After the child joins them, these rich children use the child to do the dirty work at school – insulting teachers, being rude, talking back, not listening, all those kinds of behaviours.

“The reason is that these children are trying to fit in. Trying to be brave, as if to say, “I don’t have what they have, but I’m brave. I’m a man who can stand my ground”.

“We know that their emotions come from their backgrounds. In most cases, especially the bullies at school, the father might be beating the mother, or the child might be beaten at home, so we try to deal with their emotions, how they are surviving these type of negative things that are breaking them.”

Masolane told the Brakpan Herald she loves children, and has been running the programme at schools in Kwa-Thema as well as Laerskool Kommando in Brakpan.

“There are also children from disadvantaged families, and we need partnerships to help these children with school uniforms, jerseys, jackets and school shoes,” she said.

“These are the critical needs. If we can dress 20 children, that will be a huge achievement.”

For the Second Chance programme, Masolane and her team invite people living on the streets to an event where their emotional and spiritual needs are met.

“We go to the streets, which is full of people living under the influence of substances. Substance abuse has driven them out of their homes and now their life is something else,” said Masolane.

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“You must remember this is someone’s child. Each and every parent always hopes for the best for their children, and finding your child on the street breaks you every day as a parent.

“We partner with SAPS, social workers, pastors, SANCA, recovering addicts, counsellors and other stakeholders for an event to help those who want it. It is up to them if they want to change their life. It is a personal decision but we encourage them.”

After the event, which is held annually, they share a meal together. Wenzekahle is a programme where addicts are assisted emotionally during and after recovery.

“When they are in the process of recovery at a facility, we are there trying to build a relationship with them because we know that in a few months they will be out back in society to be contributing citizens,” said Masolane.

“We don’t judge, we hold their hands and say well done. You’re not alone.”

Village of Hope also regularly reaches out to communities in local informal settlements.

“We are a small town with lots of crime caused by drugs and starvation. Hunger has turned our children into thieves, and this year we are really focusing on the youth and trying to shape our children,” said Masolane.

Twice a month, with the support of Pick n Pay Mall@Carnival, which assists the NPO by sponsoring bread, breadrolls and baked treats, food is provided to children at different settlements.

“We need more companies and individuals to partner with us to make it better,” said Masolane.

This outreach programme has also exposed the NPO to greater needs in these communities.

“It’s not just children. There are pregnant women and the elderly also in need. They also need clothes and we recently distributed clothes to children and adults in the Mgongo informal settlement (Location Road). To see their smiles, melted my heart,” said Masolane.

Masolane stressed that the NPO cannot do it on their own and urged businesses and individuals to assist. Aid in the form of school shoes and uniforms, other clothing items, food, stoves and transportation will be gratefully accepted. Masolane may be contacted on 073 934 7409.

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