Not hoping ...
but believing

Villenueva Camilo’s life today is a far cry from
the future he had imagined for himself. And he credits much of the positive change to the three years he spent at Girls & Boys Town Macassar.

Villenueva, who recently graduated from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabether after studying law – is still amazed at how life turned out.

‘I just thought after I finished matric I would get a factory job and live an average life. Now my future looks very bright,’ says this new candidate attorney at a private law firm.

Villenueva was 15 when he arrived at Girls & Boys Town. He had been living with his elderly grandmother. ‘It was hard at first. I cried every day but then realised it was the best place for me.’

It was one of Villenueva’s uncles – an advocate – who inspired him to study law. He had left a lasting impression on the young man. ‘I wanted to do law because I looked up to him'.

One of Villenueva’s proudest achievements was being invited by the Golden Key International Honour Society to attend a leadership conference in Los Angeles, USA.

But his success has not made him forget his roots. ‘I will definitely be involved with Girls & Boys Town and be an example to other youngsters,’ he promises.
'As an organisation, you've touched my heart in more ways than one might imagine. I will always be indebted to you for all the outstanding work you do and all you've done for me.

'When I didn't have a clue, you said you knew I could do it – and thank God I believed you. I had faith. That's what makes the difference. Not hoping, but believing.

'You have inspired me to want to make a difference in my life and in the lives of others. I feel positive about the future and it feels great.'

Courage and character

Dieter Marzinger came to Girls and Boys Town at the tender age of 13, after stints with drugs, theft and suicide. After two difficult years – during which he ran away three times and was on the brink of being sent to a reformatory – he reached a turning point.

This happened when he started attending martial arts classes and was no longer intimidated by the older boys.

‘I enjoyed the discipline and physical demands of the sport,' he said, 'and the instructor was also an inspiration.’

In Standard 9, Dieter achieved the coveted position of Mayor at Girls and Boys Town, but he was demoted because of drinking and left under a cloud.

However, the martial arts training he'd received at Girls and Boys Town became a crucial stepping stone, and he went on to become the Men's Fighting Champion for three consecutive years, earning the honour of becoming a Springbok, Springbok Captain and Instructor of the Year.

‘The pinacle of my martial arts success was devloping a combat system that was taught to government institutions such as the National Intelligence Agency,' he said.

But in 2002, tragedy struck when Dieter was training for the Special Forces Regiment. He dived into an unseen sandbank in the Olifants River and broke his neck.

After a series of disappointments and serious depression, learning to cope with the challenges of being a quadraplegic with no income, Dieter triumphed again. 'I have a mouth and a brain,' he thought. 'These are the tools available to me.' That was the start of his new success as an artist.

In 2003 the Foot and Mouth Painters Association in Switzerland accepted Dieter's work and granted him a three year scholarship. He recently had an exhibition showcasing 35 of his paintings and has resumed his martial arts classes.

Dieter credits Girls and Boys Town as being instrumental in developing his character. In return, we salutet his courage and tenacity. We are proud to call him an old boy.

Remembering our founder

The late Bishop Reginald Orsmond – or ‘Father O’ as he was fondly called – remains in the hearts of everyone who had the pleasure and privilege of knowing him.

Father O founded Girls & Boys Town in South Africa almost 50 years ago, against overwhelming odds. To pay tribute to this great man, a special ceremony was held at Girls & Boys Town Magaliesburg, where a bronze bust of Bishop Orsmond – especially commissioned by the Old Boys Association – was unveiled by our Executive Director, Joe Araujo.

Much has changed since our earliest days at Magaliesburg, but Father O’s vision lives on in the present staff and in the hearts of our caring supporters. Without you, Girls & Boys Town would not survive. Thank you for helping us to carry our founder’s vision into the future.

A day in the life at Girls and Boys Town ...

Children from our Dingle Family Home were thrilled with their freshly painted house.

Memories of a special man

Past principal of Girls & Boys Town Tongaat, Thakor Morar, passed away in May. His absence is felt intensely by all those who knew him.

Thakor was the first principal at our Tongaat Centre – which opened in January 1978 – and retired from this position at the end of 2004. He was popular with both staff and children and established excellent relationships with various organisations in the Tongaat community.

‘Girls & Boys Town is a household name in Tongaat because of his vision and foresight,’ said present principal, Jakes Raman.

Thakor was an outstanding pool player who represented KwaZulu-Natal at the National Pool Championships for a few years. He was a mentor to aspiring players and willingly shared his expertise. We are honoured to have been an integral part of Thakor’s life and remember him with love and admiration.

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