An Athlone teen is being supported through his final year at school by his community, who are rallying to get him to his matric dance.
Athlone, Cape Town – An Athlone teen has been overwhelmed with love from his community. The teen, who’s identity has been kept anonymous, lost his mother when he was seven. A few years later, his father abandoned him, and he was left with only his grandmother.
Sadly, last year she was struck by a car on her way to a local shopping mall and passed. The teen was left to fend for himself. Thankfully, his mother had left money in a trust for him, which has supported him through this last year alone.
The trust pays his school fees and pays out R2,500.00 to him every month. With this money, he can support himself.
“At the end of the month I first pay my burial policy. Then I buy electricity, food and pay for my school transports.
“My auntie helps me sometimes with food. My school fees are paid upfront by the trust and if I need clothes, I must make an application.
“Sometimes if I have some money left then I treat myself to a movie, but I have a strict budget,”
With his strict budgeting, he is unable to spend the money needed to attend his matric dance. His neighbour felt it was wrong for him to pass on such a significant life experience and told him his Ouma would have wanted him to attend the dance.
The community then started working on getting the teen to his dance. One of his neighbours said he is shy so wouldn’t ask for a date, so she encouraged her daughter to attend the dance with him.
“He is shy and doesn’t have a girlfriend, so my daughter is gonna go with him and now we must get a dress and so on. The children and adults here all look up to him for doing all of this on his own.”
One of the neighbours, Natasha, is working to raise funds and get him everything he needs to go to the dance. She has asked anyone willing to help, to contact her on 082 522 0714.
The money-wise teen has applied to UWC to do a business degree. He is unsure if his trust will cover his university expenses, but he plans to follow his dreams. He wants to open a bakery someday to pursue his passion for baking.
“I love making biscuits and fridge tart. Some of the recipes are my ouma’s, some are mine and some are in my head.
“I don’t know if the trust will fund my studies, but I know in two years’ time I will no longer get funds.
“But it won’t stop me. I will achieve my dream of having an international bakery.”
While he may be anonymous, his dreams and hopes are inspiring, and we wish him all the best for his future.
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