Chronicle Editor
Lumbidzani Dima, Chronicle Reporter
BEING brought up by relatives after parents’ death has always given orphans a sense of belonging and love but Mr Thandazani Dube never got the chance to know any of his relatives.
The 24-year-old young man who lives in Highmount in Bulawayo grew up at Thembiso Children’s Home.
He said he was brought to Thembiso in 2004 at the age of six but he was too young to remember his life before going there.
“I was a very young boy when I got to Thembiso and that is the only home I know.
I don’t even know who took me there. I’m totally clueless on how I got there,” he said.
Mr Dube attended Thembiso Primary School, John Tallach High School and for Advanced level he went to Cyrene High School before proceeding to Lupane State University where he is in his final year.
“I’m studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and I’m in my final year.
Initially I wanted to study Law but when I couldn’t get the chance to study Law, I opted for a degree in the faculty of commerce and I chose marketing.
Thembiso continues to fund my studies and I am grateful,” he said.
Mr Dube is studying and at the same time working at Halsted Builders Express in Belmont, Bulawayo.
He started off as an attachee and when his attachment ended, he was offered an employment contract.
Mr Dube said Thembiso is a Christianity children’s home which values biblical teachings in grooming its children.
“We were groomed under the teachings of the Bible, taught proper manners and above all to be hardworking children.
We were taught different practical life surviving skills including gardening, chicken keeping, woodwork and computers.
For me as an individual the skills and the teaching that I was taught at Thembiso are still working for me and they are contributing a lot in my day to day life.
I’m able to work well and socialise with people despite their backgrounds or my background,” said Mr Dube.
He said the greatest pain felt by orphans growing up at a children’s home is probably the feeling of not knowing their biological parents or at least relatives.
He said he felt that pain more during visiting days at boarding school.
“Seeing other children with their mothers, or siblings sharing the bonds that they have is something that all orphans wish they could experience in their lives.
That was one of the challenges I faced as a kid at boarding school during visiting days.
Seeing my friends with their parents made me think a lot but I had to act strong and what was comforting was that the Thembiso people were always there for me,” said Mr Dube.
He said he never faced discrimination as he found good friends who made him feel welcome to an extent that no one believed that he was an orphan who did not know his family.
“I was never discriminated against but I personally felt inferior sometimes.
I didn’t feel much comfortable participating in conversations that had to do with families and in most cases, it was a matter of ‘my dad this, mom this’.
I think that actually made me stronger because I did excuse myself whenever they talked about families,” said Mr Dube.
He said he told himself that he was his own biological mother, biological father, sister, brother and best friend.
“I told myself that since I was the one who knew the pain, it was up to me to find solutions and answers to my problems.
I don’t know anything about my family, I’m totally clueless.
Sometimes I wish I could but then another mind of mine says broe you grew up without them, don’t look for complications in your life,” said Mr Dube.
He urged his fellow orphans never to give up on life.
“To my fellow brothers and sisters who are like me, giving up is not an option.
Just appreciate the people you have around you.
Be focused in whatever you are doing, keep pushing, keep pressing hard until the very end.
I know it is not easy but it is something that should be done.
In everything you do, put God first and face whatever challenge you come across head on.
Giving up is not an option.
We are soldiers and let’s continue to fight until the very end,” said Mr Dube.
He said those living at children’s homes must have contact with the outside world.
“As much as proper manners and grooming is the main focus, the children should be taught how to be able to socialise well, they should interact with the outside world so that they can fit in the society when the time to leave Thembiso comes,” said Mr Dube.
He said he wishes to have his family in future and he wants to give them the intimate love that he never got as he was growing up.
“I do want a family. I just wish to be there for them, provide for them.
I don’t want them to live the life I lived.
I want them to know their parents and have us as their best friends so that they can talk and not hide or bottle up anything. That’s all I wish for,” said Mr Dube.
Thembiso Children’s Home superintendent, Mr Busiso Maphala said they try hard to give the best life to their children.
“If we see a potential in a child, we ensure we provide all that is ncessary for them to realise their full potential,” he said.
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