Hope Mahakoe walks in the footsteps of a legacy
Where all hope seemed to have been lost, the young girl is living up to her name by proving you can achieve anything you set your mind on.
Hope Mahakoe (18), a young girl who was once an orphan, was brought to a haven where she was given a second chance.
She made the most of the given opportunity by completing her matric with excellent results.
Hope’s story is a testament to her name and how she has persevered by finding hope in her situation.
She first came to Nkosi’s Haven when her biological mother passed away at a young age. A social worker took her in because of the gender-based violence she witnessed at home and the passing of her mother.
Later, her father died which left the girl an orphan at a young age.
“Coming to Nkosi’s Haven at the age of seven was life-changing. I had to learn to adapt to my new home, which was a challenging experience, but I settled in well,” explained Hope.
Founding director of Nkosi’s Haven Gail Johnson said, “When Hope first came to the haven, she was an extremely quiet little girl and struggled academically. To see her improve and accomplish this milestone is great and we are proud of her hard work and courage. Her name is a significant part of her story.”
Over her school years, Hope attended five schools where she eventually matriculated from United Church School in Yeoville, Johannesburg.
Although her story seems dark in the beginning, her fearless nature allows her to see the light.
Nkosi’s Haven impact
Nkosi’s Haven, located in Alan Manor has been operational since 1999. It offers holistic care and support for destitute HIV/Aids-infected mothers, their children and resulting Aids orphans – whether infected or uninfected.
The haven is named after Nkosi Johnson, the young Aids activist who passed away on International Children’s Day in June 2001. Nkosi was taken in by Gail Johnson who was volunteering at the care centre, where she first saw the young boy and his mother, Nonthlanthla Daphne Nkosi, who was frailly ill.
Daphne saw the love Gail had for them and gave them Nkosi.
The young fighter was posthumously awarded the first KidsRights Foundation’s international children’s peace prize in Rome in November 2001.
Left as an orphan and living with the disease, Nkosi was a fighter who impacted many during his time. In July 2000, he delivered his self-written address, televised worldwide, to 10 000 delegates at the 13th International Aids Conference in Durban and in October 2000 he took the same message to an Aids conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
His legacy continues to live on through Nkosi’s Haven. Nkosi was separated from his mom because of the HIV diagnosis and he never wanted that to happen to any other child.
Reaching a milestone
Hope is thrilled about completing her matric with a bachelor’s pass. “I feel excited that I managed to achieve this milestone despite my circumstances.”
She highlighted that she is proud of herself for getting good marks and attributes her success to God’s grace and the support of the haven.
During her matric journey, Hope was faced with the pressure of completing the syllabus, finding alternative methods to study which wouldn’t disrupt her housemates and load-shedding.
“When I think about it, I question where I would have been if I wasn’t brought to Nkosi’s Haven. I’m grateful that my sister and I were taken away from my father because it protected us,” expressed Hope.
She further emphasised how hard it was to find her identity because she did not know her family. “It never discouraged me when I went to school. My peers would look at me like I have parents. Being at this haven, allowed me to be raised like a child because of the caregivers who played a huge role in my life. They taught me values which I live by every day,” said Hope with a grateful heart.
Her support was big. The haven ensured that all the matric learners were taken care of and lacked nothing. They were provided study material, and if anyone struggled they would try their utmost best to get a tutor.
“My caregivers raised me to not be a quitter. I remember when I felt like giving up and I would look at them and see their bravery, which would encourage me,” highlighted Hope.
Hope has plans to pursue studies in medicine and has promised herself that she will achieve more than just completing her matric. She is thankful to her caregivers, founder Gail Johnson, operations manager Lynn Sewell, and her peers.
Her journey of determination is a testament to the legacy of Nkosi Johnson. The haven is a reminder that despite the darkness you see in whichever situation you find yourself in, you should have hope and continue to persevere to make your dreams come through.
