On the 20th November in 1959, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. We recognize Universal Children’s Day on this date as a time to acknowledge the rights of children around the globe and to create in children an awareness of each other’s needs, desires and circumstances. This year’s focus according to UNICEF is “a day to reimagine a better future for every child.” To symbolise the importance of children’s rights on the day, landmark buildings will light up blue and children may be seen taking over visible roles in media, politics, business, sport and entertainment, emphasising matters of importance to them.
This year we choose to celebrate the courage and resilience of three South African children who despite the odds are gaining success and hope for their futures.
Firstly, there is the story of Vuyelwa Tshoto from the Eastern Cape who lost both her parents at the age of 14 and became head of her household with three younger siblings. Not only did she have to provide for herself and her siblings which she did by finding a part time job, she also had to act as a parent while completing her schooling. Vuyelwa struggled to apply for university due to lack of information and also found it difficult to complete the documents she needed to apply for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). She persisted in seeking assistance with the process and finally, she was granted her funding which enables her to study at Fort Hare. Times are still tight as she has to use 80% of her funding just to sustain herself and her siblings. Due to Covid-19, she is also now meeting the challenge of online learning in an environment where there is little access to the internet. Vuyelwa credits her success to being able to improvise and keep moving forward with hope and a positive mindset. She is determined to earn her degree so that she can soon earn a decent living.
We can also look to Daniel Duda’s experiences for inspiration. Born in Parkview, Johannesburg, his mother worked as a housekeeper. She did not earn much, but her employers made sure that Duda was enrolled in a good school. He suffered when his abusive father would take out his frustrations on the family and sometimes, after his mother left his father, they would go to bed with no supper. Duda also experienced difficulties with learning. He often felt like giving up and he had to repeat some grades. Things got worse in high school when he felt he was not coping at all. He fell in with a dangerous crowd and started using drugs as a way to escape his feelings of shame. Failing Grade 10 was a jolt. At this point he made a definite choice to trust in himself and stop giving up quickly. He re-started Grade 10 and gave up his destructive friendships. At the same time his mother became ill and he had to take care of all her needs as well as look after his younger brother, Emmanuel. Duda’s mother died during his Grade 10 year. In this time of crisis, thankfully, a family friend offered him and his brother a place to live so that they could continue their schooling. Although it took him a long time to adjust to the loss of his mother, Duda managed to matriculate. Determined to set himself up as a plumber he applied to Tomorrow Trust who took on his college fees for training at a Soweto college where he excelled, even taking on some of his own students. Duda hopes one day to open a trade school. He eventually made peace with his father and continues to coach and assist other children through Tomorrow Trust.
Finally, there is the heartwarming story of Jayden Adetiba from Cape Town who at nine years old landed a contract with his dream football team, Arsenal, for his undoubtable soccer skills and his commitment to training hard every day. “Don’t be afraid to dream big, that’s what my dad always tells me. Then work as hard as you can to chase that dream.” Jayden began working with his former coach at The United Soccer School in Cape Town from the age of 2. His coach said, “You could see he had something special, but what was also so impressive was the way he progressed almost with every training session. He had a real hunger to learn and was able to put that into practice quickly. His ability is part of his success but it is his attitude that also set him apart.”
These stories, and countless others, show our youth what is possible, despite the many challenges faced by South African children. With humility, effort, determination and a mindset that enables them to grasp opportunities they can overcome tremendous obstacles.
References
Francke, R. (2018). Cape boy scores, signs up with Arsenal. Iol.co.za. Retrieved 6 November 2020, from https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/sport/cape-boy-scores-signs-up-with-arsenal-16872457.
SA People. (2013). Daniel Duda’s success story – SAPeople – Your Worldwide South African Community. SAPeople – Your Worldwide South African Community. Retrieved 6 November 2020, from https://www.sapeople.com/2013/06/11/daniel-dudas-success-story-429/.
Said, N. (2018). Arsenal wonderkid Adetiba ‘something special’. ESPN.com. Retrieved 6 November 2020, from https://africa.espn.com/football/south-africa/story/3625607/arsenal-wonderkid-jayden-adetiba-has-something-special.
UNICEF. (2020). Join us on World Children’s Day – November 20. Unicef.org. Retrieved 11 November 2020, from https://www.unicef.org/world-childrens-day.
University of Fort Hare. (2019). Vuyelwa Tshoto – A Story of triumph and overcoming adversity. University of Fort Hare. Retrieved 6 November 2020, from https://www.ufh.ac.za/news/VuyelwaTshotoStorytriumphandovercomingadversity
