Lerato

This is Lerato. She is 9 years old. She enjoys mathematics and netball and her favourite meal is rice and chicken. Her favourite person is Dineo, her sister. She wants to be a doctor when she grows up, so that she can help people like her aunt, Maria, who is very ill. Last time the school visited her aunt, they thought she would not recover. Happily Maria has recovered somewhat. Although ill, Maria looks after her own child as well as the five children of her late sister.

When we interviewed Lerato, she said that her dream holiday would be to go to Lichtenburg, to visit her grandparents. Lichtenburg is about 3 hours drive away. At this point Maria started to sob. While we tried to comfort her, Maria explained that she felt bad because she had not been able to take Lerato to Licthenburg. The last time Lerato was there was five years ago, for her mother’s funeral. Lerato has not seen her grandparents since then and she misses them. When we asked Maria why she had not visited them for so long, she answered that she did not have the R400 (about $50 or £30) for taxi fare.

Africa Food for Thought arranged, through Lerato’s school, for them to go to Lichtenburg during the next school holidays. We also entered Maria in a competition (702 Radio's Birthday Wish) and she was awarded a 2 night stay in luxury accommodation (Sun City) for herself, her child, and the five children of her late sister. This has cheered Maria up no end, and is a just reward for her heroism.