Help a laaitie

Help a laaitie...

Laaitie (pronounced as 'lighty’) is a South African slang word for a youth; a young person, especially male.

My name is Suan Mulder, based in the platinum town of Rustenburg in the North West Province of South Africa. I am pledging a campaign on behalf of a self-sustaining teenage boy and would like his anonymity protected due to his circumstances.

My path recently crossed, in the most unexpected way, with this Grade 12 pupil from a local high school. He was on was on his way to write a final school year record examination (exams before the final exams) paper.

On this particular morning, I was on my way to drop-off my children at school. Then it happened. This boy’s scooter landed in front of my car after he collided with another vehicle. Miraculously, he escaped with what is described as only minor physical injuries, however his scooter was a complete write-off. At the time I was relieved and argued that with minor injuries he will recuperated quite soon and that his parents’ insurance will take care of the rest…. Only later to realise how wrong I was…..

Before the accident this teenager was completely self-sufficient. He lives by himself and works in the afternoons and evenings after school as well as over weekends in order to financially sustain himself. He is responsible for paying his own room rent, schooling fees, books, etc. His mother is a single parent with more children and does not have the means to take care of him. He used his hard earned money to purchase a rundown scooter from a salvage yard and repaired it himself. It was not gift from his parents as I have wrongly assumed. There is no vehicle insurance or other means to have it replaced. As a result of the accident, this youngster cannot get to work and he can therefore not earn money to meet his financial obligations. At the moment one of the teachers is giving him a lift to school.

Even though his physical injuries are regarded as only minor, this accident has resulted in a major emotional and financial setback for this youngster. This boy is busy with preparations for his final school examinations and needs to focus on his school work like his other class mates. At his age he should not be worried about things such as paying rent and buying food.

Please help this boy get back onto his feet.

He desperately needs a second hand scooter and support to get himself a drivers licence. Currently his monthly expenses include room rental, fuel, schooling fees, cell phone charges, food and hygiene products, which he covers from the money he earns from his temporary job. Covering his monthly expenses for the next four months until the end of December 2016 will help him to focus on is studies.

He is interested in pursuing a career in the architectural field and it is therefore important for him to pass his examinations well. He is furthermore looking for opportunities for in-service training.

Additional funding raised will be applied towards his needs in 2017.