Personal testimonies and case histories

Country: SOUTH AFRICA
Name: Rokaya Jardine
Address:FIOHSA, 32 Webb Street, Flat no 11, Yeovil 2198 Johannesburg South Africa.
Tel. 0027116438370

EMail: graccag@yahoo.co.uk

I grew up in Sophia Town in the apartheid era. I came from a large family consisting of 6 (six children) of which I am 5th born. I matriculated in 1991 and studied computers for one (1) year. I then worked in litigation for a Group of Attorney. I partially studied for a CIS and then worked for Auditors for 8 (eight) years doing Company Formation, Accounting and Legislation, etc.

I was previously disadvantaged myself and that is what brought this feeling of helping others to mind. I worked before with a lot of poor people within my community and know that there are a lot of families that go hungry every day. The reason why crime and twilight children happen to exist mainly in South Africa is due to unemployment, no help, no income, family is ruined, parents abuse kids, alcohol, drugs, AIDS, uneducated,etc. That is why most children resort to bad things. I know deep in my heart that I can help those kids, by giving them shelter, food, education and make them to be a proud South African (one day, IF GOD WILLS). I know approximately 50 (fifty) people that I have been helping with food, bread and little bits of monies from my own pocket. When they see me in the street they run to me as if God has sent me to help them.

I know from my own experience, that when you are destitude no one helps you. You feel stranded - there is a saying that goes "When days are dark, friends are few". Myself and my family have for many days gone without food while I was growing up due to the fact that my Dad was the only bread winner in the house. With his earnings he had to support the kids, pay the rent, electricity and his transport costs to and from work. His salary only but managed to pay the rent (roof over our heads).

Gracian (Gracian Mkodzongi), I feel sad knowing what is happening and I can not just sit back and look at the future in which our children die when there is so much hope and help out there.

I know that I can make a difference in upliftment of our youth especially the disadvantaged ones, no matter what colour, race, religion or creed.

If we work together and build the "Future In Our Hands" we can make a difference and know that God is with us every step of the way in assisting us to reach our goal and to make this life a better life within the African Continent.

Look at Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine! There are even worse situations right here in Africa. It breaks my heart and saddens me knowing that I can eat and enjoy myself while poor people are suffering.

Let us make a difference, I know that we can MASAKHANE.