"Ubuntu" - "I am because of you" (Southern African Term)

Humanity is the thread that unites us. This universal bond that connects us all is undeniably beautiful. Love springs forth from our shared needs, shared experiences and shared goals. We all breathe, we all love and thus we all live. Harmony is borne out of a commitment to unite rather than divide.

This phrase was the last status on Bashir Osman's WhatsApp and we spoke about it shortly before his passing (Saturday 4th July 2015). In life and in death Bashir has inspired so many. He was a beautiful brother with undeniable charisma and integrity. I believe he completely encapsulated Ubuntu! His humanity towards others was unparalleled.

It was for this reason that I committed to make changes in my life from Saturday 4th July 2015 onwards... I have lost 28 pounds (2stones!) in weight and have committed to a healthier lifestyle. I have also committed to running the Birmingham Half Marathon on Sunday 18th October 2015. I have been training for this in the UK, Morocco and Italy. 

We chose South African Street Children as the cause to raise money for because of the origins of the phrase that united Bash and I. We also chose Amos Trust because of the AMAZING and INSPIRATIONAL work they do across the world in a very hands on and REAL manner. We will focus on supporting young girls on the streets and try to PROACTIVELY BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS.

I have always found running exceptionally hard but have dedicated myself to the task in the best way I can... I run for Bash, I run for South African Street Children, I run for Amos, I run for me, I run for us...

I am running the Great Birmingham Run with Amos Trust to raise vital funds for their partner project Umthombo Street Children in Durban, South Africa. Set up in 2005 , growing from a small team of volunteers befriending street children and taking them surfing, to a purpose built centre with a range of sports & arts programmes with a social work team and family support work. 

Umthombo now needs to really focus on its work with young girls on the streets particularly those with babies in order to break the cycle they and their children are in. To do this they need to raise the money for 2 Social Workers (junior and aux) for the year. The Social Workers would work with a team of outreach workers, working with girls with babies on the streets,  equipping them to make positive life choices for themselves and their children. Methods include upskilling, parenting grants, breaking dependency on boyfriends, reuniting with families, providing temporary shelter.  

£15,000 could cover salaries for 2 social workers (junior and aux) for the year for example. 

£5,000 will be used to fund a Holiday Programme in Bashir's Honour

Umthombo Street Children in Durban, South Africa have been our partner since 2005, growing from a small team of volunteers befriending street children and taking them surfing, to a purpose built centre with a range of sports & arts programmes with a social work team and family support work.

Umthombo was set up following ten years of work by volunteers on the streets of downtown Durban and within the township of East London. Specialised services for homeless children were non-existent, no-one was really looking out for these children.

Today thanks to Umthombo's pioneering work and campaigning presence, the situation is very different.

Today Umthombo operates Safespace, a dedicated centre for street children near the beach in Durban, where they can find safety, food, help and hope. The centre offers a wide range of sporting and arts activities to enable staff to befriend and engage with children. These programmes include soccer teams for both boys and girls, art programmes including visual art, spoken word and music sessions, and a unique surf school.

being children again, finding a way out

Umthombo's programmes are designed to give children the chance to relax, have fun and act their age away from the harsh realities of street life. These activities provide the staff with the opportunity to begin to rebuild their self worth and help the child to recognise that they are not trapped by their past or the circumstances that brought them to the street in the first place. Click here to read about why children go to the streets

going home

Where possible Umthombo work with the child's family, so they can be reintegrated back at home. The team help the family to access the support they need from other agencies, so they can stay together. Umthombo know from experience that supporting a child back at home always has the best long term outcome. In families where there has been abuse, the team work to find other relatives that can provide a home for the child or a foster home. In 2013, Umthombo helped over 80 children return home or find a permanent place of safety. 

the increased importance of after-care

Due to campaigning pressure from Umthombo and other welfare charities, social services are much more joined up in Durban now, this means that that help can be given faster and children do not end up living on the streets for months at a time like they did when Umthombo first started.

This has brought about a shift in Umthombo's work. The after-care programmes are more important than ever before. Children living back at home continue to come to Safespace to take part in the sporting and arts programmes and to continue with counselling. The Umthombo team also do home visits to ensure that they have all the support they need at home.

"I say to other children, go home if you can. It might be hard, but the streets are harder. Umthombo can help you and your family." former street child, 2013 

a natural high

Solvent abuse is a big problem amongst children on the streets and in poor neighbourhoods in South Africa. Sniffing glue and solvents results in the wasting of bones and and muscles, sometimes resulting in permanent disability. The Umthombo team target children who are abusing solvents for a special surf programme, replacing the high of glue with the natural high of surfing.

Amos Trust has helped Umthombo to gain a three year grant through Comic Relief's Sport for Change programme to support some of the costs of the surfing and soccer programmes. This funding has been vital in keeping things running despite the downturn in charitable giving in South Africa.

a staff that knows

The current CEO of Umthombo is Mpendulo Nyembe. He was chair of Umthombo's trustees for several years whilst working for nearly 10 years at the Institute of Healing Memories with Father Micheal Lapsley, (a project which came out of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission). Mpendulo is qualified in social work, youth work and is ordained in the Methodist church, 

Umthombo Street Children was co-founded by Tom Hewitt MBE and Bulelwa "Mandi" Hewitt.  Mandi herself is a former street child and felt passionately that the street children of Durban needed outreach workers that knew their story, could understand and say "I know" and mean it.  Umthombo continues to employ former street children on their staff to maintain this unique insight, one of these is Bona who heads up the girls work. More about Umthombo's girls programme. 

"I have hope through Umthombo, that one day I will go home. One day I will go to school again." Vincent, former street child 

more than a game

The run up to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010 was a significant moment for Umthombo. The team not only co-founded and hosted the inaugeral Street Child World Cup, but they managed to use the national and international media coverage from the event to change local government policy and outlaw the police's brutal violent practice of rounding up street children. Umthombo will be sending two teams (1 male, 1 female) to the 2014 Street Child World Cup in Brazil.   More about the Street Child World Cup

the future

Umthombo would like to increase the hours Safespace is open to ensure that children can access help and support 24 hours a day. Until this is financially possible, the team are doing everything they can to ensure that no child has to sleep on the streets of Durban.

To support the work of Amos Street Child partners in South Africa, click here.