Comfort zone for street children
Hope of Hopeless organisation's founder, Clement Makolo, went from living on the streets to providing hope for others.
LIMPOPO – The 35-year-old, from Indermark in Senwabarwana outside Polokwane, is a man of vision and development.
Makolo told CV that the organisation aims to take children of the streets to a place of comfort, to better their lives.
“The country’s future is in the children’s hands and seeing their dreams sink into sewage is shocking,” said Makolo.
Although he faces several challenges such as finances and a shortage of materials needed to build a rehab, he sees himself as a winner.
“I see this organisation as a crucial tool to saving and channelling South Africa to greener pastures.”
He said the organisation has thus far managed to unite 10 kids, who lived on the streets, with their families and that they hope to find space at rehabilitation centres for another five children.
Makolo’s wish is to have a place where he can accommodate people, adding that many people end up going back to the streets and doing drugs as they have nothing to do at home.
He said the reason he found himself living on the streets at the age of 12, was because his mother was a single parent, who later on married an abusive man.
“I grew up without my father’s presence, but was overjoyed when my mother got married to another man. We hoped that things would change for the better, however, things did not go as we wished. My stepfather was a drunkard and he used to abuse my mother, which I could not tolerate,” he explained.
Makolo left to go and live on the streets and started doing drugs and substances, and relied on dustbins for food.
“Through the prayers I received from people, I managed to turn my life around,” he added. Living on the streets did however, according to him, teach him a few things. “I learned how to humble myself and how to respect and treat other people,” he said.
Makolo lived at Rhema Paradise Shelter for two years, which he says helped him turn his life around.
“I worked as a security guard during the weekends and ran church errands during the week,” he added.
At the age of 22 he returned to his home in Bochum and he now wishes to provide hope to others.
