‘See the world through my eyes’
He is looked at with judgment. "How can you live with your family in a car?" If only you would stop and talk to John. Listen to his story, and see the world through his eyes.
It’s a Monday morning in the middle of August 2021. It is winter in South Africa and this year is exceptionally cold.
My boss has just called me into his office. I have no idea what is happening. Then, his words hit me like a bucket of ice: “I am sorry John, the company is closing down. We don’t have money to pay salaries this month.”
The story of John Doe unfolds …
Good upstanding citizens who have lost everything but their car, some clothes and very little other means to live by. Now, their car has become their home and a flask with hot water to make coffee becomes their hope that tomorrow will be a new day.
He is looked at with judgment. “How can you live with your family in a car?” If only you would stop and talk to John. Listen to his story, and see the world through his eyes.
I have lost my job due to Covid. I am cold and hungry. I feel ashamed although I didn’t do anything wrong. Can you see the world through my eyes?
“The first wave of the National Income Dynamics Study – Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (NIDS-CRAM) provided strong evidence that there had been a drastic increase in both adult and child hunger in the survey months, May and June 2020, and that almost half of all households had on occasion run out of money for food during April 2020.” (Bridgman, Van der Berg & Patel. 2020, p.2)
Melodie van Brakel, CEO and founder said, “At the Cradle of Hope, we experience these facts first hand. Our Community Feeding Scheme provides a meal to around 400 hungry and destitute people every weekday. To further extend the help we have been offering through the years to the steady flow of people in need, coming to our gates and asking for food, clothing, toiletries, and anything and everything you can think of, the Cradle of Hope’s ‘Find a need and fill it’ project began in 2020, addressing the growing unemployment rate and the new demands the Covid-19 pandemic commanded.
Families can apply for monthly food parcels which are then delivered to their residences; and mothers can apply for baby food and products where there is a need. The ‘Find a need and fill it’ project also assists with household items and furniture when a need is identified, and donations allow. We offer help and hope, regardless of race or religion. Offering a hand-up and not just a hand-out. Because we care. Please support us!”
Visit their web page for more info and donate to www.thecradleofhope.org. They can provide Section 18A tax certificates that allow you to claim your donation back from tax. Their NPO registration documents and BBBEE Level 1 certificates are available upon request.
