Keep a Child Alive

Day 26 - Sandile: The First of Thousands

Sandile has been a part of Ikageng Itireleng AIDS Ministry since the beginning.  Founded by Mum Carol Dyantyi in 2002, Ikageng today provides the basic necessities for more than 1500 children living in child-headed households in Soweto, South Africa - including food, clothing, water, electricity, school fees, healthcare and transport.

When Sandile was only 14 years old, he lost both his parents to HIV/AIDS. In the last year of his mother’s life, she only received a monthly disability grant, and it was a battle for his family to survive.  With only $75 a month - this was not enough for food, water and lights, and Sandile and his two siblings could not afford to attend school.  Mum Carol heard about Sandile and his siblings through a family friend and came to the rescue. Sandile’s mom passed away a week after they had met Mum Carol. Mum Carol helped arrange for a proper burial and for Sandile and his siblings to return to school.

Sandile’s story was covered by media around the country.  Many people in South Africa still do not understand HIV/AIDS, and this led to Sandile feeling judged by his peers and neighbors. People could not differentiate between infected and affected - they thought that Sandile and his siblings where infected with HIV too. This cut deep.  Friends and people distanced themselves. With the support of Keep a Child Alive and Ikageng, Sandile worked hard to complete high school.  He then proceeded on to College to complete a Diploma in Information Technology, and he was offered an internship with PricewaterhouseCoopers.  He started to study for a BSC Informatics degree in university, which he is still working towards completing.

Sandile has the uncanny ability to change lives.  He has already made an invaluable impact in the lives of his peers, and will continue to do so.  His passion for music and dance brought him to be the manager of the locally-acclaimed dance crew “Soweto’s Finest.”  He helped them to perform at the opening and closing ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup – and earn the title of “Best Dance Crew in Africa”.  He is a sensational soccer player, that he dreamed of taking on professionally, but now at age 26 has decided to focus his talents elsewhere.  He is currently the Director of RockBoiz Entertainment - an event management, marketing and artist management company.  His fearless ambition drives him to do more, and he believes that one day he will be successful one day and able to give back to the organizations that helped to raise him: Ikageng and Keep a Child Alive.

Sandile says, “I would like to thank the world for every cent or dollar that they have donated. This has helped me and thousands of other children. I appreciate your humanity. May God Bless you. Last but not least, a big thank you to Ikageng and Keep a Child Alive. I love you guys.”

Sandile and all the children running child-headed households in South Africa are why we do what we do at Keep a Child Alive. Text BUYLIFE to 90999 to give $10 to help us continue these inspirational stories of hope, love and strength.

See all of our Daily Inspirations.