The Department of Education tried to find a school for the streetkids to no avail, they were not in school most of the year, thinking of ways to keep the street children occupied, home schooling was the only option -and it started with a bang. More people came on board to help. With our minds and hearts set on the idea of teaching the street kids and thus, eventually restoring their sense of dignity as valuable, members of society one day, classes started.  But it was a terrible time.

The streetkids lacked self-respect, discipline and hated authority of any kind, they sniffed glue, spiked heroine and smoked dagga at every opportunity. Street children all feel that life is unfair, they take what they can get, and when it’s finish, they'll survive on what’s left. If it is nothing, then it is nothing.

Liza sat quietly in her corner, reluctant to participate, fuming and staring at the others from underneath her fringe. She wanted to be with her boyfriend instead. Jinna set her life skills book alight and the other sister ripped hers to shreds.  Al considering the he first day went OK compared to the other days. We soon realized a single days work had to be divided into 6 days.  The two sisters, jinna and Rosanne could not let the lesson continue fluently without some explicit language of sex and drugs and ending their contribution with many vulgar songs such as “ Hey you don’t be silly, put a condom on your willy and f*<# for your country” and other phrases.  Most of the boys took to the road as soon as they see books appear. Group discussions turned to fits of anger, tears and destruction. Educating the streetkids was exhausting and virtually impossible.

Streetchildren do not go to school. They do not want to go to school. Hope fled in certain instances and we had to accept that fact. Education is important, but to be encouraged to learn, you have to see some kind of future for yourself, because loveless, who could dare to belief in oneself? They saw no future, felt no love.