Sive's Story

When we first started mentoring young boys on Friday evenings in Walmer, there was one boy who stood out - not because he spoke, but because he didn’t.

Sive was 16 years old.

Every week he arrived with his hoodie pulled tightly over his head, his face half hidden, avoiding eye contact. While the other boys slowly began to engage, Sive stayed silent - angry, withdrawn, and deeply distrustful.

Growing up without a father figure, he carried trauma and frustration that showed in his behaviour. Like many boys in similar environments, he was used to people showing up for a short time - and then disappearing. He had learned not to trust easily.

For nearly six months, he barely participated in anything we did.

But we didn’t stop showing up.

Week after week, we stayed consistent. We talked. We listened. We gave him space without forcing him to open up. Slowly, trust began to form.

One evening, after about six or seven months, he finally spoke honestly and said words that have stayed with us ever since:

"Can you blame me for not wanting to be part of what you were doing? Nobody ever continues to come back."

That moment changed everything.

It reminded us that consistency is powerful — especially in the lives of young men who have experienced repeated disappointment.

Over time, something began to shift.

He started speaking.
Then participating.
Then laughing.

Nine months after we began mentoring, he was no longer the same boy.

In March 2025, one of the proudest moments of our journey took place — we had the privilege of baptizing Sive. Watching him stand there, choosing a new path and declaring his faith, was a moment that confirmed how God had been working in his life all along.

Today, Sive is confident, engaged, and respectful.

Most weekends, he comes to our home, spending time with our family — playing with our young son and building strong relationships with our children. What once felt distant has now become deeply connected.

Today, he says something we never take lightly:

"I am part of your family."

Sive still has siblings living in difficult circumstances, and his future could easily have followed the same path. But our goal now is to support him in pursuing higher education, helping him secure opportunities that will allow him to build a stable and independent future.

Through this journey, we have seen firsthand that transformation does not happen overnight.

It happens through consistency.
Through love.
Through faith.
Through showing up - again and again.

Because with God's guidance, one life restored can change an entire future.