My name is John. My family life was very unstable and so I spent most of my early teenage years on the streets, avoiding going home. I met Uncle Sam and his outreach team when I was about 14. I went to live at the shelter but I often ran away, preferring the freedom of life on the streets than routine and going to school. But Uncle Sam kept coming to find me until he wore me down and I stayed! By that time, I had missed too much schooling to complete my Matric, but Kids Haven helped me to get some basic plumbing skills. Most importantly, Kids Haven helped me to secure my family home, managing rentals while I was living in the centre so that when I was ready to leave the Centre, I had a small nest egg plus my home was still safe and belonged to me.

I love sport and luckily had a chance to work at a Mandela Day event at Decathlon in Bryanston. Decathlon staff came to Kids Haven after that and described work in their retail outlets and all the behind-the-scenes work that a shopper might not even know about. I started working at Decathlon, becoming a regular employee. Through Kids Haven, I met the mountaineer, Saray Khumalo, who took us on hikes. I discovered I love being outdoors and through this opportunity, was able to learn guiding and hiking with the Mountaineer Club of SA. I also completed first aid training. I moved from Decathlon to City Rock, but now I am opening my own business from my home in Daveyton. I arrange hikes for the children at Kids Haven and most recently led an overnight hike for children at Kids Haven who were completing a hike as part of the bronze level of the President’s Award.

I am very proud of who I am now and what I have achieved. I don’t know what might have been if Uncle Sam was not determined to protect me and look after me when I was a young teenager. I help out at Kids Haven on Saturdays and will always be available to hike with the children and share my story to encourage others.