Calvin’s story
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Calvin’s story
A young man decides to be his best self.
Calvin Kamphinda, a young man of 15 years old, started attending Uthando centre in 2016. Coming from the inner-city of Johannesburg and raised in difficult circumstances, he adopted the violent behaviour he saw around him. He became a bully not only to his peers and classmates but to his teacher as well. One day in class, when his teacher made a xenophobic statement he threatened her with a knife. After that incident he was expelled from school. He started attending another one, but his act of violence followed him wherever he went. His peers were afraid of him, and he was isolated at home, and at school. Calvin felt like he was approaching a mental breakdown, feeling lonely and disappointed in himself. During that period his parents gave him one piece of advice in the form of a question, “is this the kind of life you want for yourself?” It stuck with him. He made a decision to always do the right thing, and then his journey to being a better version of himself has begun. What helped him was coming to Afrika Tikkun’s Uthando Center every day.
“In my environment it’s not always easy to do the right thing – especially because of
the way some people treat you.” These days Calvin has found a sense of purpose and value in encouraging his peers. He spends his afternoons giving motivational talks to younger learners, and guiding them like a big brother.
