Carpe Diem
Monique Botha
At the age of 9 in 2015, Monique Botha had to call the Abraham Kriel Children’s Home Nylstroom her new home. From the outset, it was clear that she would not allow the difficult domestic circumstances from which she came to hold her back.
Rather than letting the sadness of her past weigh her down, she used it as motivation to seek beauty; not only in her circumstances but also in people. Thus, a seed was planted to bring out the beauty in others, and Monique’s dream of becoming a hair stylist was born.
Taylor van Staden
Taylor van Staden was taken into our children’s home in 2015. After matriculating, she applied for a scholarship to study teaching at AROS. During her studies, she works part-time to meet all her needs. She is currently in her final year and will soon receive a qualification in teaching. Taylor is also a promising young writer and participates in writing competitions. Here is one of her latest poems:
My parents’ home was not what it should have been. When I was placed in the children’s home, I found my true self. I learnt how to be my own person and that I can be anything I want to be. The children’s home was my ‘safe place’ when everything I knew collapsed. It was the best thing that could have happened to me. Thanks to them, I am now busy with my final exams. They are the reason that I can live my dream.
Gavin Smith
Gavin has been part of our AKK family since May 2014. He is a keen sportsman and excels in rugby, cricket and golf. In 2018 he was elected as leader at Laerskool Nylstroom. In 2022, Gavin was selected for the Limpopo Blue Bulls’ high school team. In 2022, he became Deputy Head Boy of Hoërskool Nylstroom. His dream is to study engineering and play professional rugby.
I have been at the children’s home for a long time; if it were not for this place, I would not have been able to achieve all my dreams. The Lord placed me here to make a difference and inspire the little children. The home is a place where dreams come true.
Sanet Basson
Sanet was taken into the children’s home in March 2017. In 2018, her grade-10 year, she developed a brachial cyst. Frequent inflammation caused a lot of pain and discomfort. In addition, it also had a considerable influence on her self-esteem. Our children are all dependent on the state for medical care, but Sanet could not get help at the state hospital at that time. In her matric year (2020) we finally got private help through Jacaranda FM’s Good Morning Angels and Operation Healing Hands. The cyst was removed before her matric farewell and final exams. She passed matric with flying colours and gained university admission. As a result of the media exposure her story received, she became the recipient of a private scholarship to further her studies. Sanet is studying education at the University of Pretoria and has almost finished her second year.
The children’s home became my home. As soon as I strayed from the path, the children’s home staff not only disciplined me like parents, but also took my hand and redirected me to the right path. The home is not only the place of safety; people there see your potential and help you to the best of their ability to make progress in life. There is a saying, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’. I know that I, and everyone else at Abraham Kriel Children’s Home, were very fortunate to have had a community who helped each other to raise us. The children’s home was my greatest gift from God.
Benjamin Moller
Benjamin has been part of the Abraham Kriel Children’s Home Nylstroom since December 2014. He matriculated at Hoërskool Nylstroom in 2020. In 2021 he enrolled at Sondela Academy and is currently doing his second year in Game Ranch Management. Benjamin also received training in hotel, lodge and resort management. Because he has the gift to identify new business opportunities and realise his ideals, he won the Student of the Year Award in this category at Sondela Academy.
The children’s home was the rock on which I could build the foundation for my future. It was not my first and best option to be there, but it was really a very good second option. The home showed me how to be independent and responsible. There I learnt how to be a better ‘me’ for myself and for other people.