How often do we chase children away, especially street children? Just drive around to find at most traffic lights in most of our cities you will find someone asking for a couple of cents. The past weekend I did a project dubbed Round Table Winter Knights which meant spending a night out in the cold, with our the local community dropping blankets, food and clothes for families who live on the streets.
It was great to do it with my fellow Tablers and friends making a difference to people who really needs it. We could not watch the Semi-final Rugby especially the Stormers first time since 1999 in a semi. I am a father, who love my kids with every thing I have, some days a little bit more than others.
We were asked by 3 young street children about 10/11 if they could watch the rugby, we agreed with a very watchful eye on them children expecting them to steal something. As expected one of them did steal. 10 years old and he stole my heart and tears.
The 3 friends watched in amazement, whilst sipping their soup, at the BIG screen like any rugby crazy kids would, discussing, shouting & screaming for the the Stormers. It was about 9:30pm when they thanked us for the rugby, soup and the braai we enjoyed together, with manners which any parent would be proud of.
One of the boys 10, decided to stay behind as his two friends disappeared into the dark chilly night, he only asked for one thing to lie down and sleep a little bit. He could lie down and sleep as much as he want to! This night in his life nobody will hurt him, rob him or bully him, not if I could help it.
He can’t go home to Atlantis, because of alcohol, verbal, physical abuse or raped. We made him a bed from donated blankets, covered him and show him the love that any child deserve. This is a 10 year old child, who run away from home over weekend because it’s not safe at home, it’s safer for him in the streets than in his own home with his family.
Checking in through out the eve made me very emotional, with this child sleeping like an angel with a satisfied smile on his face, living in his cruel, crazy, beautiful world with nobody to protecting him. Left to his own devices, but still know his upbringing, of respect, please and thank you. I can’t let this go!
As our night started to come to an end with us packing all the donated blankets and other stuff away, I started wondering what’s going to happen to him. He didn’t wake up whilst us packing up everything around him. How can you go home to your own family leaving a 10 year old child sleeping warm wrapped in blankets in a parking area? It’s a moral dilemma which I rather don’t want to think of like most of us!
Yes, it’s not my problem, but I can’t get that child out of my head, the happy peaceful little face, sleeping like an angel, fed, warm and protected.
Today is International Children’s Day how ironic!
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