Peggy Chauke fulfils her calling

Hundreds of Alexandrians daily walk past a jewel that is churning out and polishing potential future leaders for the township and the nation.

Tucked away from the public view, the jewel called home by its beneficiaries shines bright and is undeterred by its surroundings of squalor and poverty. The jewel, NPO Joy For One Leratong Centre on 12th Avenue, is the brainchild of former teacher Peggy Chauke whose calling is to help the less fortunate and poor.

Driven by the adage, ‘never judge a book by its cover’, Chauke abandoned her teaching career for charity work. The centre is her platform to contribute her bit to saving vulnerable children with huge potential but trapped in a cul-de-sac of poverty.

“All they need is nurturing to make them shine and prevent them from undesirable life of criminality which would lead them to prison, hospital beds and dishonourable demise,” Chauke said in reference to many youths who are incarcerated, injured and killed.

The beneficiaries are drawn from ill-equipped and makeshift crèches run by concerned residents, referrals by families, friends, schools and social workers from a tender age. Many have stuck it out at the centre for over 10 years, witnessing its evolution into a modern, well-equipped, safe, quiet and homely family environment exemplary of a well-knit extended family.

Admitting modestly to her good work, Chauke said the need for support from orphaned children is huge and rising with the annual increase in local and foreign migrants attracted to Alex’s proximity to most of the potential employment areas. “This is in addition to deeply rooted poverty, exasperation and a dearth of caring principles of ubuntu among and within struggling families.

“Also, deriving from poor, unemployed, desperate and, dejected women in search of money, act carelessly and avoid using pregnancy prevention methods resulting in children they can’t support.”

Those who care are then forced to take over and bring up potentially intelligent children and care and mould into a family.

Her initial target was 15 but increased it to 25 who are between the ages of seven and 20 years. A few are in primary school, the majority now in secondary school, three at tertiary level – two at the University of Johannesburg and one at Boston College. Her daily presence at the centre provides them with a motherly feel together with the carers who have stood by her from the beginning and as in any family going through disagreements which they solved collectively.

In the process, strengthening the trust, consolidating relationships and making the children feel loved and supported in all essential needs. This, from contributions by other families, businesses, tourists, youth and also the government.

The construction was supported by Australian tourists, families and businesses including local ones, who adopt, provide financial, material, education and equipment support, local and varsity students provide homework and study support, churches give spiritual support and, some of the beneficiaries’ families come in occasionally to clean the centre.

“Their contribution enriches me, the team, makes us emotionally safe, lightens the load, makes us grow, wiser and encourages all other centres to persist in similar work.”

She said the work isn’t without challenge but fulfilling when particularly teenage beneficiaries adopt good discipline, study further, get good jobs and professions, previous ones stabilise their families and plough back to the centre.

She distributes excess food, clothing and other material to save those still without help. “We shouldn’t be greedy but give in keeping with the Ubuntu principle, to give hope and not allow poverty to define their destiny.”

Beneficiary and Boston College student, Matsie Letsae said home is not where there is blood family but a caring family environment.