Luke Koeries lost his police officer dad at nine. Now he’s giving the kids of Ocean View a reason to smile. His recent tribute to his dad is everything.
Ocean View, South Africa (09 October 2026) – Many kids facing difficult circumstances in Ocean View get to enjoy a daily meal, help with their homework, or special trips to the beach and cinema. It’s all thanks to Luke Koeries and his non-profit organisation, Kids Are Kids.
Luke started Kids Are Kids while he was still in Grade 8, after seeing younger children facing far tougher situations than his own. Today, the organisation mentors and educates children in the community through after school programmes, holiday programmes and a feeding scheme.
Many of the children Luke works with grow up surrounded by gangsterism, drugs and violence. Kids Are Kids fills their days with as much love and joy as possible, so there’s less room for the negative.
It starts with a full tummy, because no child can concentrate on homework or dream big on an empty stomach. Every child who walks through the after school programme’s doors gets a home-cooked meal and a cold juice, served with plenty of love.
The organisation also focuses on memory-making. Just recently, thirty children from Ocean View got to go to the cinema, and for many of them it was their first time out of Ocean View and their first time ever at the movies!
Not too long ago, a group of kids got to spend a day at Kommetjie Long Beach, swimming, playing and building sandcastles, safe and surrounded by positivity.
Both outings were made possible by kind sponsors and supporters of the organisation working to bring support to the young ones of Ocean View.
This week, Luke shared the story of where it all began on Facebook. It was a heartfelt tribute to his dad, who first taught him the importance of looking after the community.
As a little boy, Luke spent his afternoons at the Ocean View Police Station, where his father served. It was his second home, where he did his homework and where the officers treated him like family. He looked up to his dad and the way he served, always putting others first, even on his days off.
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Mandlakazi High's Principal Knew Her Students Deserved Better – So She Did Something About ItWhen Luke was nine, he lost his father. The officers who had treated him like family got him into counselling and made sure he had a school uniform, stationery and a lift to school and back. It wasn’t an easy road. Luke struggled at school and was bullied, but he held on to his dream, and had his dad’s name tattooed on his arm so he would always be part of everything he achieved.
That dream was to become a police officer, just like his dad. It didn’t work out that way, but Luke found another way to serve. He’s become a volunteer firefighter and Level 3 First Aider with Emergency Assistance Volunteer Support, and through Kids Are Kids, he’s now giving children the hope he needed at their age.
Luke may not wear the same uniform his dad did, but he still serves, just like he was taught.
Read Luke’s tribute in full below.
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