I’m from a community called Eldorado Park, South of Johannesburg, where it’s estimated that as much as 89% of young people find themselves unemployed and turn to crime to survive. In 2018, I found myself losing two cousins of mine, one on the 24 October after her gang rape caused her death and my second cousin passed away on the 9 November following her, she was raped and murdered – we as a family got a call from her friend who was involved with the guys who murdered her – that was the hardest blow as a family.

Attending funerals happens every month, often week by week. My precious brother-in-law was gunned down as an innocent man on the 27 April 2024 leaving 4 children fatherless. I’ve lost so many families members related to gang and gender-based violence that I was left lost. I lost my hope. I lost my purpose. I lost my health. I lost my ability to be a changer leader. I couldn’t find my way back up. The words of Willie Toweel, “You choose to get back up,” rang through my head.

We lost one of our own Growing Champion volunteers ,Uncle Paddy, this is where I began to gain my life back. I realised, the one thing I hadn’t lost, was my gratitude. He was at every game the Growing Champions football team I coached played, weekend after weekend, no matter where we played. He encouraged us to go for more. I dragged myself to his funeral with a mask on and medicated for my tuberculosis. Underweight and isolated. There I saw the love in the eyes of my Growing Champions family when they saw me. Coach Sam immediately arranged a safe place for me to heal and receive treatment. They wouldn’t let me continue without care.

Sometimes we feel lost, we forget we are not meant to carry all these things by ourselves. I found my Growing Champions family by my side and God in every circumstance and challenge, no matter how tough things get. I’m here to ensure those suffering loss, lost in the storm of the blows of grief, are never alone. My team and I will guide them with love and light, to find hope again. New Life.