Educate a South African Child Experiencing Poverty

Your generosity to the students of Christel House South Africa has made a significant difference in many lives. I’d like to introduce you to one of those students.

Taariq is a 17 year old student at Christel House South Africa (CHSA). In December, Taariq will enter his final year at CHSA - his school home since 1st grade.

Taariq lives with his mother, father and brother in Hanover Park, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. Hanover Park is known to be one of the most poverty stricken areas of Cape Town. It has a reputation for being a violent and crime ridden area, with gang violence being particularly rampant. Taariq has seen this violence in his neighborhood, and often has to stay locked in his home when he is not at school for safety.

Taariq is very grateful for the opportunities Christel House has given him. Without Christel House, he believes that he would have been sucked into the violent culture that surrounds him. Instead, Taariq is a student with a very bright future. He is top of his class, one of the best trumpet players at his school and has aspirations to attend the University of Cape Town and study law. One day, Taariq wants to return to Hanover Park to mentor young boys and show them that they too can have a brighter future.

Your support is helping impoverished students, like Taariq, transition to higher education and fulfill their goals and dreams. Thank you for believing in the mission and children of Christel House - you are changing lives.

Links:

• Christel House Website
• Christel House Facebook
• Christel House Blog

Rushin joined Christel House South Africa (CHSA) in 2002 when he was in 5^th grade. He grew up in a very poverty stricken area of South Africa where drugs, alcohol and violence are rampant. Before coming to Christel House, he even considered joining one of the many gangs present in his community. Although these pressures never subsided during his school years, with assistance and guidance from CHSA, Rushin was able to overcome these challenges.

Rushin graduated from CHSA in 2009 and is now proudly enrolled at the Cape Peninsulas University of Technology. He is currently pursuing a career in construction engineering.

Young people in South Africa today are faced with many challenges. Nationally, only 20% of students ever complete the 12^th grade and 50% of South Africans aged 18-24 are unemployed. Rushin recognizes the difficulties that he faced and accredits CHSA for helping him to overcome these barriers.

 “Christel House South Africa introduced me to the notion of ‘breaking the cycle of poverty’ in which so many youth of today so easily become ensnared.  My horizons were truly broadened at CHSA. I learned to look beyond my circumstances, to achieve success against great adversity. Christel House South Africa has opened the door of quality education to me and now greater success is within reach.”

Links:

• Christel House Website
• Christel House Facebook
• Christel House Twitter