Article by Kotie Geldenhuys;
Photos courtesy of Unsplash and Freepik
In a city where the streets were busy and the buildings were tall, lived a young child who did not have many friends at school. Life at home was hard as his mother worked long hours and his father was no longer around. Money was always tight and the idea of a better life seemed like a dream far, far away. A day in the park was about to change this youngster’s life …
That day, while he was sitting alone in the park, a friendly stranger, dressed in expensive clothes came to sit next to him. The man started asking about his family, school and dreams. The child felt a strange comfort around this stranger who listened in a way that no one else had before. Over several few weeks, the man often joined the youngster on the bench, spoiling him with small gifts. Eventually, the man began to talk about his “work” and how there was a way for this child to help his family. He promised money, a sense of belonging and even protection. For a child who had felt alone and overlooked, the offer sounded like a lifeline. What the youngster did not know was that the stranger was part of an organised crime group that took advantage of children like him. Other children were all drawn by similar promises.
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[This is only an extract of an article that is published in Servamus: January 2025. This article is available for purchase.]