A young boy who has endured plenty in the course of his young life is now living a happy and carefree life thanks to NG Welsyn.
André’s (pseudonym) mother passed away in 2010 when he was only three years old. His father died shortly after.
Following his parents’ deaths, André went to stay with his paternal grandmother. They lived in a two-bedroom RDP house that was extended with corrugated iron to include a kitchen. His uncle lived with them, but he was unemployed and allegedly abused drugs.
André’s grandmother abused alcohol to such an extent that her health deteriorated. After she had a stroke, she was unable to take care of herself or André. The young boy didn’t eat every day and was physically neglected.
During one home visit by the welfare organisation NG Welsyn, the little boy stated that he hadn’t eaten for two days and that his uncle was begging for food and would bring some home for him.
André is HIV positive, but no-one ever checked if he used his medicine correctly or took him to the clinic for his general check-ups. At the age of nine years, he weighed only 22 kg and was behind on his school work.
To make matters worse, André lost an ear when he was run over by a taxi. Children bullied him at school and made fun of him.
After NG Welsyn established that there was no other family member who could take care of André, he was placed in the Rethabile Child and Youth Care Centre.
He is now 11 years old, and since his placement in Rethabile CYCC, André’s school performance and physical health have improved.
He used to avoid speaking to adults, but now he is more self-confident. André’s grandmother has passed away since, so holiday parents have been recruited so that he would have a place to spend his long school holidays.
André now has a more positive outlook on life and is a happy child. He doesn’t have to worry about where his next meal will come from and can focus on being a carefree little boy again.
