GFC On the Road has launched a new feature: sharing the voices of our grantee partners and extending grassroots knowledge globally through guest blogging. The following post is from Jose Bright, executive director of Teboho Trust.

Soweto, South Africa Approximately 100 children and teens (grades 1 through 12) came through today to acquire academic tutorials, a nutritious lunch, and life skills that will help them do well in school and cope with life in the Soweto township. As we reach the end of our calendar and school year, I’m reflecting on every Saturday our children and teens came for personal growth, social development, and educational support. This was the first year we accepted children from grades 1 through 6, and we are so grateful to the many teachers and volunteers who have come on board to help us with them. It’s very rewarding when a 5-year-old learns how to read and wants to read to you, another wants to recite the letters of the alphabet, and another is bursting with joy to show you her classwork. The younger children have certainly brought a lot of excitement to Teboho Trust, and I look forward to every Saturday morning, when a lot of small children run toward me as they see me entering the school. Wearing big smiles on their faces, with their arms reaching out wide for a big hug, they shout, “Baba Bright” at the top of their lungs. (Baba means “father” in Zulu.)

The children and teens give up their Saturdays to come to our academy not only to learn academics and life skills but also to see their friends and peers, and they show love, respect, support, security, and genuine trust for each other. Our volunteers and supporters often observe this—orphaned, vulnerable, and at-risk children/teens with adults from all walks of life working together to keep alive that old African proverb “It takes a (global) village to raise a child.” They find it utterly amazing, and many say that the love of our “family” keeps them coming to help as they take some of that love home with them to share with others.

It’s great to experience the community coming together to help the children on Saturdays, from preparing lunch, cleaning the classrooms, and washing dishes to helping us with academic tutorials with our younger children, where African languages are used because the children are just learning English. Moreover, we have a dedicated staff and core volunteers that make Teboho Trust come alive, providing a safe, loving, creative, and enabling environment for our children.

Many say that I’m blessed, but I wish people could really understand the blessing—I’m blessed because so many children and teens are blessing me by allowing me a glimpse into their young lives. I learn so much from them and feel I’m a better man because of them. They have taught me humility, patience, and unconditional love. They have helped me to discover the true meaning of compassion, giving, sharing, and optimism.