Keep a Child Alive

Why I Love KCA’s Work in South Africa by Jessica

What an incredible experience! I have been back in Canada for a week now, and still have clear, vivid memories of every person I met in South Africa, every place I went, and every story I heard, as if it all happened yesterday. This was only my second time in the beautiful country, yet I felt as if I was right at home and amongst my family and good friends, where every one of their experiences and emotions were ones that I automatically experienced and felt, too.

Each of the sites that we visited (The Blue Roof Clinic, Bobbi Bear, Agape, and Ikageng) is run by four of the strongest and most inspirational women I have ever met. Their desire to make the lives of those around them better, their love for each one of these people, and their dedication to what they do have made these women four of my top role models in life. After speaking to any number of people affected by their work, they have nothing but good things to say, getting emotional at times because they cannot put into words how much they love these women.

One of the most memorable stories that I had shared with me was that of a child-headed family of four girls and one boy supported by Ikageng. The four girls lost both their parents and were left on their own to take care of each other a few years ago. Nokulunga, the eldest of the four girls stood up to the challenge and has been a mother figure to these girls ever since. In April of last year, she gave birth to a son of her own, so takes care of him, as well. She is only seventeen years old, but takes her role very seriously and loves her family with all her heart. Nokulunga means “mother of kindness”, which is such a fitting name for her. She wants good things for her family, so she has arranged to have her son taken care of while she attends school again this year. This family is one of the strongest families I have seen despite the circumstances they face and I felt the love they share as soon as I met them. When asking one of the younger girls, Zandile, about her older sister and Mum Carol, who runs Ikageng, she immediately exclaimed that she loved them both dearly. It was beautiful!

This trip has really opened my eyes to the work of Keep a Child Alive. I had visited a few of the sites on my previous trip to South Africa, but actually going with KCA allowed me to see how truly passionate everyone is about the work they do for so many people in South Africa. It makes me genuinely happy to know that I have been raising money over the past four years for such an impactful and worthwhile cause. I am so grateful to KCA for the experience, and I hope that my involvement with them will continue to grow. I also encourage anyone who is not a part of KCA to get involved.

xo Jess