Help give Martin the best chance at life
Little Martin needs to have his hearing tested but needs the support of the Highway community to get it done. Are you the one to give him the boost he needs?
AT only four years old, little Martin* can already tell he is different from the other children. Despite their constant attempts to include him in group games, he would rather sit on his own in a corner of the children’s home, content in his solace.
Tholothando Children’s Home has been a beacon of hope in the Embo community for more than 15 years and was built from the ground up by its house mother, Sindi Duma. It is now called home by 38 orphan children from six months to 17 years old.
Sindi grew up in a poor family and watched her mother battle and fight to make ends meet. It was when three of her family members lost their battle to AIDS and she took in their children as her own, that she realised her calling in life. Day by day she would hear of other children living on their own and would open her home to them.
“I am a Christian. My hands may have been empty but my heart is rich. I felt the need to look after them,” said a passionate Sindi.
Two years ago, a child was dropped off at the home with no letter or information regarding his health and his needs. “His hearing problem started when he defaulted on his ARVs,” said a saddened Sindi.
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She seeks him out in the courtyard and finds him playing with an action figure in the corner of the building. There is a look of deep sorrow in her eyes. Her pain, she said, comes from finding out his HIV status too late. She assures me he is now back on medication and is doing better.
“He is fine when he is with me, but I often find him on his own. He feels lonely due to the communication barrier between himself and the other children,” said Sindi.
“I am concerned. All of the other children have gone to school and he cries when they leave as he so badly wants to go with them. He is very hard of hearing or deaf and there is a process and tests that need to be done before I can enroll him into school.”
The only other obstacle standing in Martin’s way is still being dependent on nappies.
“No matter how hard I try to potty train him, it just hasn’t worked. He can’t understand what I am saying. Even his brothers and sisters have tried to help,” said a concerned Sindi.
Taking Martin to a government hospital to have the tests done would take Sindi an entire day, and this, coupled with the responsibility of looking after the rest of the children in her care, it is simply not plausible.
“I just don’t have enough time in a day. If someone would be able to take him to get tested it would be a huge help to Martin and to me,” she said.
One of Sindi’s greatest joys comes from watching him play soccer. His smile stretches from ear to ear when he scores a goal and is eager to turn any round object into a soccer ball when one is not in reach.
“I am worried about him. I want him to have a full and happy life,” said a loving Sindi.
She thanked the donors of the home for their continued support.
If you are able to help Martin, or would like to make an in-kind donation of perishable and non-perishable food, toys or children’s clothing, contact Sindi on 072 634 6790.
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