Ik ben Rogier van Luxemburg en heb in 2007 deelgenomen aan een uitwisselproject met jongeren uit de Townships bij Durban Zuid Afrika.

Sindsdien onderhoud ik contact met deze zeer getalenteerde en vooral lieve groep, de African Champions. Zij gebruiken theater, toneel en zang om jeugd uit de criminaliteit te houden en met hun voorstellingen proberen zij aandacht te geven aan gezondheid, seksualiteit, criminaliteit, armoede en honger.

maar zij hebben het zwaar gehad afgelopen maanden. Onderstaand bericht ontving ik van Tinkler, de artistiek leider van de groep.

Het is een oproep om bij te dragen om de groep een uitstapje te gunnen.

Voor hen ben ik deze GofundMe gestart in de hoop dat de jongeren van de African Champions een keer een speciaal weekend samen mogen beleven.

For the last four months I didn’t have a job. There were days I didn’t know where my next meal was coming from. And that was hard - especially because there was a time I was the one providing for other families, making sure kids had food on the table. I never thought I’d be the one in need.

I almost had a chance to go to America. It felt like my one shot at a new start, my one hope for some happiness. But it fell through. That loss weighed on me more than I can explain. I went back to my beloved group and told them honestly - I was about to give up on everything. On the work we do helping the community, on building up the kids, giving them something positive to focus on,(school work and life generally) also performing for them and make South Africa a better place as usual.

But they didn’t let me quit. They stood up, they showed up for me, and they gave me strength when I had none left. Some were asking me if I quit where will they go. Because of them, I’m back on my feet and back to working for the community, again.

Now the 25th of May it's my birthday and 22 of June is my commuity art development group birthday, in June 22 I don’t want gifts or a big party. All I want is to take my group out for a weekend together on the day we started this amazing work, evenon my birthday I won't celebrate- will be saving for my group, just to sit, talk, laugh, and thank them properly for what they did when I had nothing. It’s my way of showing them how much they mean to me.

If you’re able to help make this weekend happen with a small donation, I’d be truly grateful. It’s not just about a trip. It’s about honoring the people who carried me when I couldn’t carry myself.

Thank you for reading this, and thank you for supporting us.

Eric Delwa (Tinkler)