October 2020: Today we want to tell you a Great success story of a boy from the children’s home - Onamandla Austin Makhaye, whom I have known since 2004. Back then he has been only 4 yers old. Today Ona is a young man who studies Business Administration at the University of Durban.
I fondly remember the time back when I accompanied Ona and his friends Kabelo, Nana and Menzi on their daily way to kindergarten. In the afternoon we played together on the beautiful grounds of the children’s home, e.g. catching, hide and seek, or in the sandbox with self-made vehicles made of wire or simply with sticks. Later I practiced the colors and numbers in English with Ona, because when he came to the orphanage he only spoke Zulu. The children in the children's home are usually educated in three languages - Zulu, English and Afrikaans.
Over the years Onamandla has grown into a self-confident young man. I was able to witness the development during my visits in 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016 and lastly in 2018. We asked Ona about his experiences in the children's home. Enjoy reading the interview.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a children's home which is located in a small town in KwaZulu Natal which is called Greytown. The Home was called Greytown Children's home or Greytown Kinderhuis and is now called Greytown Child and Youth Care Center.
Why did you come to the Children’s Home?
I have lived in the Children's Home for 14 years (April 2004 -November 2018). The reason that brought me to the home were financial problems of my family. There had been times when they could hardly afford a meal and they wanted me to live a better life and get a better education than they had.
What have you learned in the Children’s Home?
The home thought me a lot of things like discipline and self-respect. This got me to a place where I became respected by my peers. I also learned to respect myself, so that peer pressure was not an issue at a stage of my life when I was living together with many young people. I was never easily influenced by my peers.
What successes did you achieve during your time in the Children’s Home?
Life at the children's home gave me a lot of recognition and life support. I have met people at the home who are still supporting and encouraging me to do better, because they say they see potential and a respectful young man in me. I had the opportunity to become a head boy twice in the home (2016 and 2018) and in 2017 I was a prefect at school. I was allowed to become a head boy at Greytown Junior School in 2013. In 3rd grade I was awarded the 3rd place in English. In sport, however, I have not been a top achiever, but I liked to play rugby and soccer. I am still going to achieve greater things to do credit to the home and my family.
The start of a self-reliant life after graduating from high school and leaving the children’s home end of 2018 was not easy for Ona. But this year he was able to enroll in business administration in Durban. Unfortunately, the Corona pandemic made the start difficult, but he told us that the classes at the university started again and he has to learn a lot. Ona finances himself through temporary jobs and lives in a student home in Durban.
What do you miss most when you think back to your time in the Children’s Home?
I miss the relaxed atmosphere at the home and all the routines, which I thought they made me unhappy but they helped me to become a better person. I miss having a meal on the table every day, 3 times a day and not stressing on what to buy or eat.
What has been the biggest challenge after leaving the Children’s Home?
The greatest challenge I have is waking up on time for university. Sometimes I struggle to prepare food after a long day of lectures.
Did you pick up any interest or Hobby in the Children’s Home which you still pursue?
The computer room was where you would find me. Helping out in the computer room was my greatest time spent at the Children’s Home. I love computers and they helped me a lot to stay out of trouble and it helped me with most of my anger issues. I would have liked to be a worldwide recognized IT specialist, but due to fate I was not able to pursue that career path.
What targets and Plans do you have for your future?
In the future I would like to become a business owner, which is not far from my dreams as I started studying marketing in 2020. I will not contribute much to the economy of South Africa, but having a business will give employment to some families and my family will have something to work on and grow.
It is great to see that children like Onamandla, from a socially difficult background, get a chance for a hopeful future by being brought up in a children's home and with good educational opportunities.
We wish Onamandla continued success and fun in his studies and all the best for the future.