THANDI XABA

About 35 street kids living under a bridge in Central Park in Bloemfontein were taken to a three week uplifting camp by Free State Department of Social Development. MEC Sisi Ntombela says “80% of the homeless teenagers in Bloemfontein are orphans but this camp has re-instilled family importance in most of them.”

Tabling her budget in the Free State Legislature today, Ntombela says they will be working with the Dream Come True Foundation to expose the youth to training and technical skills.

“The camp started last year and will be held annually, this year five of the youngsters have gone back to their parents while 15 are in the process of reconciling with their families,” she says.

She emphasised it’s important to talk to the street kids to understand their problems because some of their reasons for leaving their homes are very serious. “Parents fought and kids cannot always handle it, hence their decision to live on the streets,” she adds.