By Noelene Barbeau
Vincent Ngema came to Durban to earn a living. His mother died in 1996, he never met his father and his family could not take care of him.
Ngema used to wash cars at the beachfront to make money - until he met Alan Wallace, who taught him to surf.
This was four years ago and now, he is the teacher. Go down to uShaka beach any day of the week and there you will find four youngsters, who used to live on the streets, teaching children how to surf and kayak.
"I'm a qualified lifeguard and have being teaching people how to surf for five years now," said Wallace. "Victor used to wash my car at Addington Beach until I thought about offering him this opportunity."
Continues Below ↓
Wallace heard about Bongani Matha, 21, from a lifesaving friend who taught Matha how to swim, and soon introduced him to surfing. Matha lived at the former Tong Lok restaurant in Point Road with other street children. He's been surfing for nine months and now lives at a shelter near uShaka Marine World. "These guys are so dedicated and passionate about what they do," said Wallace.
Both Ngema and Matha have completed a kayaking course and are using their skills to teach others. Ngema has also been on a surfing course. "If a day goes by without my going into the water, it just doesn't feel right," he said. There are about 30 children being taught by Wallace and Ngema. Many are from the area, or are tourists.
"Victor helped a little girl from Slovenia overcome her fear of water," said Wallace.
"She was on holiday with her family and, after a week with Victor, she was out in the water and loving it. She sent Victor a letter when she got home thanking him for changing her life."
Matha is enjoying every minute out in the water or teaching others. He has encouraged his friends to come on board. Four of them, including Matha, have stayed with the development programme.
barbeau@sundaytribune.co.za
- This article was originally published on page 4 of AFP on November 06, 2005
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
