The boy then left that employer and sought work tending another man's cows. His reward here was to receive food and shelter, to attend school and have his fees and uniform paid for. He came to Mpontshini Primary School in 1999, when he was about 12 years old to join a class of 7 year olds in Grade 1. His R50 school fees were paid and partial uniform provided by his employer. He attended school, though he was often absent because he had to find missing cows. In July 2000, one cow was missing and could not be found. His employer accused him of thinking himself too important to find the cow now that he had new school clothes and refused to give him food until he found the cow. He did not eat for a week. Then the man said he must dig holes for fence posts to keep the rest of the cows together. The boy protested that he was too weak, having had no food, to dig holes, so he was sent back to his original "foster" father.

He met the school principal (Hlengiwe) during the school holidays and told her that he would not be returning to school the next term as he had no money and no job. She told him he must come back and she and the Governing Body would make a plan. The foster father refused to feed or house him so the boy slept in the bush, his friends brought him a share of their food, but still he came to school. The Principal and the Governing Body met and they all agreed to him being given this shed, which had once been a classroom to 50 children and then a store room, as his home. All the teachers and members of the Governing Body pledged to share their food with him.

He made a little garden for himself. Inside he had a bed, donated by the principal, 2 pop crates and pieces of cardboard to form a table.

In 2001, with his agreement, Sibusiso*, another late school starter aged 19, joined him after his mother died and the neighbour who had taken him in, treated him as a virtual slave.

In 2002 Mavuso*, then 12 years old, whose mentally ill mother had abandoned him, was brought to school by a neighbour and the hut became home to the three boys. Later in 2002 Sihle* then aged 10, was brought to Mpontshini, having been found by a former pupil, near the local high school. His mother had died, his father, who was elderly and very ill had sent him to live with an uncle who physically and verbally abused him to such an extent that he ran away and lived in the bush, scavenging from bins for two weeks before being found.

The hut was not suitable for four boys. A carer was needed with the advent of the younger boys, so funds were acquired to build a three roomed cottage. We were not aiming for luxury just a place of safety which would give a level of care equal to that expected from a poor but caring family.

A carer was nominated by the community and she moved into one of the rooms with her youngest child, and grandchild. Gardens and maize were planted and a fish farm started.

Soon after completion, Themba*, then fifteen years old in grade 5, who was employed as a cow herd locally, came to ask for a place after he was evicted by his employer for refusing to accept corporal punishment for not having informed him that one of the cows had been missing, even though he had found it and apologised for not telling him. His father was dead and mother was missing.

There has been quite a lot of movement in the home, named Ekukhanyeni (Place of light). Thobekani* left to look for work and was persuaded to come back when he was being exploited. He left again several months later, wanting to earn money and got a job as a cowherd but asked to come back when he became fearful of having to take the cows deep into the forest to graze, that he would be bitten by a snake. He returned to Ekukhanyeni but does not want to continue with his education so works on a recycling project and will begin building his own home soon.

Mavuso* left in 2003 after he had killed Sihle’s dog. He had earned a piece of meat from a neighbour for some work and while it was cooking he turned away to fetch something and the puppy took the meat. He was so incensed that he threw the pup to the ground several times and it died. Sihle* was very upset and Mavuso*, ashamed, packed his things and left in the middle of the night in search of his mother. He returned to school in 2004. We support him at the home of a neighbour, as his mother is incapable of caring for him.

His brother Mthobisi* also came to live at Ekukhanyeni for several months. We now support him at the home of a distant relative until we have room at Ekukhanyeni for him to return.

Sibusiso* left in 2003. He now has a job herding cows.

In 2003 we had an influx of six children, all cousins, four of whose parents had been siblings and all had died, as well as their spouses. Their only surviving relatives are elderly and unable to care for all of them. In 2005 their ages range from 8 to 13 years. They were joined by Zandile* aged 15 and Xoliwe* aged 12 in 2004 following the death of their mother.

It was necessary to build additional accommodation and two more bedrooms have been built during 2004 - 2005, as well as a large lounge. The corridor has been roofed in. In addition project workers have built a jungle gym and shower and toilet block for the children. We grow fruit trees and vegetables and have pigs, geese, chickens and ducks.

In mid 2004 Mxolisi* aged 13 was brought to the Principal by a member of the community. His grandmother had died, his mother disappeared and his father had taken another wife. He was mistreated by them and by his other grandparents, so left home and lived in the bush for months before being brought to live with us. His brother, two years his junior has since joined him. They are lovely boys.

The kindness these children all show to one another and the pleasure they derive from the smallest thing are very heart warming and salutary for those of us living privileged lives who are rarely satisfied. The photo below shows their reaction when I gave them new school uniform and shoes. That night they sang and prayed until very late, rejoicing that they had a pair of school shoes. They kept trying them on looking at them and admiring them. One said when she became an orphan she thought that her life would be very difficult and never in her wildest dreams thought that she would have this kind of care and enough food and new shoes….. made me cry!

2005 saw the advent of Themba’s brother aged 17 and his little sister aged 7, who had been living alone, dependant on the kindness of neighbours for food, in a windowless house, (above right) while their mother looked unsuccessfully for work. They were followed by a family of five children and lastly a teenager who had been orphaned and then subjected to abuse by a member of her extended family. Christmas 2005 will be celebrated by 22 children at Ekukhanyeni and our latest addition – the baby of one of our children (below right).

Our aim is not only to provide a place of safety but a place where children can flourish. They receive counselling from Zisize's intern psychologist and we will begin life skills classes there in 2006.

Several of these children are sponsored by individuals in the UK but we need more sponsors to ‘adopt’ a child and not only provide money for their care but to take an interest in them.