Learning about life the hard way - Davie’s story
This is an archived story from Africa written on 23 February 2010
The Samaritan Trust is one of Tools for Self Reliance’s partners in Malawi working with street children in Blantyre. On a recent visit we met Davie. Here’s his amazing story.
Davie with his new toolkit
Davie Chiku (19) told us about the help he received through the Samaritan Trust’s vocational training project which is being supported by Tools for Self Reliance. Davie spent two and a half years at TST’s skills development centre on Chikwawa Road and his life literally turned around.
When I was 16 home life was bad. I didn’t have school necessities and I went days without food. I was also beaten by several members of my family.
Things were so bad that Davie ran away from home. He suffered intimidation and abuse on the streets of Blantyre where he slept rough for 6 months. He just about scraped together a living from piece-work and begging.
I offered to guard people’s cars and earned a bit of money this way. The beatings continued. My friends were at school. I wondered if I’d die without getting an education. My future was not good.
Then Davie had a lucky break. One of TST’s social workers found him and offered him the chance of a different life which Davie was quick to grab. At the start things were tough, as all Davie had known were violence and threats. But slowly he learnt about relationships and mutual respect. He learnt about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and how to reduce the risks to himself and others. He acquired a new set of skills in carpentry and was given his own Tools for Self Reliance toolkit which he now uses to repair and make furniture. And what’s more, with TST’s help Davie was able to patch things up at home and return to live with his family.
Davie is now optimistic about the future. With his new-found skills, tools and self-confidence he’s now got another chance – one he fully intends to take.
My life has really improved. I don’t see any challenges I can’t overcome.