Educate a South African Child Experiencing Poverty

Although she was only six at the time, Lericia remembers living on the streets with her mother and siblings after her father died in prison and the family lost its house.  “The worst part was the constant hunger and not being able to wash,” she reflects. 

A local church provided the children a shipping crate in which to make a home—it was dry, and relatively safe. And, they were asked to come to Christel House where they were provided with healthy meals, medical care, clean clothing and a place to shower, and most importantly--an education and teachers who showed encouragement and support.

When her mother died four years ago, Lericia became head of the household.  A 2009 graduate of Christel House, Lericia is studying at university to become a teacher.  She wants to inspire young people to never give up on their dreams.  “I want to tell them, become goal-driven.  Don’t limit yourself to matric—aim higher.  Get an education, earn good money and then give back to your community.” 

Thank you so much for all you do to support the children of Christel House. Without your support, Lericia and other children like her would face a much different future. 100% of all donations go directly towards programs for the children of Christel House. 

Links:

• www.christelhouse.org

No Obstacle is Too Big!

Living in the slums of Cape Town with his two sisters and his mother has not stopped Gopal from working hard to achieve his dream of going to college. A 16 year old student at Christel House, this determined young man participates in sports and art, loves music and is always willing to lend a helping hand.

Gopal's mother, a widow, works very long hours as a domestic helper, earning a meager $67 per month.  Food is a luxury at times. Living conditions are nearly unbearable. Yet Gopal, according to his teacher, is a diligent student. "He has grown into a responsible individual. He is extremely enthusiastic. He will do very well in the future," she boasts. "He has great leadership qualities. We have a lot of faith in Gopal."

Had he not come to Christel House, Gopal strongly believes his life would have turned out very different. "Christel House has given me the opportunity to grow and develop into a better human being. The school has made me more responsible and has enabled me to acquire skills that will help me to face the world in the future," says Gopal.

Gopal's dream is to attend college to become an engineer and support his family.  "I love my school and my teachers who have taught me everything that I need to know to face the challenges of life. I know that I will be able to overcome whatever obstacles I have in front of me. I am very lucky to be here."

You can help Gopal and other Christel House students' dreams of going to college come true. When you donate to  Christel House 100% of your donation directly benefits the children. At Christel House, no contributions are used to fund overhead or administrative costs.  Thank you so much for your continued support. Every donation makes an impact on our Christel House South Africa kids and their future. Together, we truly are breaking the cycle of poverty one student at a time.  

For more information, visit our website at www.christelhouse.org.

Links:

• www.christelhouse.org