“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.” – Robert F. Kennedy
Justicia is a village located just outside of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Travelling down the wide, corrugated dirt road, weaving in and out between herds of cattle, you will often see a Londolozi cap: members of the team on a two-week leave period, off to the shops, or looking for a lift to a neighbouring village.
It was at the beginning of 2013 that Shadrack Mkabela, now a Londolozi Tracker, was on his way home to Justicia when he noticed two young men hanging around outside of his house. What was clear to Shadrack was that the two young men were brothers, but he soon learnt that they were twins too.
A true leader, Shadrack Mkabela, at Londolozi this year
“My first reaction was to ask the twins why they were not in school” says Shadrack, “and like so many of our youth, they couldn’t give me a proper answer. I had seen them around before, not bad guys, but how long can young people stay out of trouble if they are out of a job and not being given any direction in life?
And so on that day, I did something I hadn’t expected to do. I went to visit the headmaster of the local school.”
The headmaster’s news came as no surprise. The twins, Sipho and Sizwe, did not have a school uniform or any stationery. The school didn’t know of a legal guardian or even parents that they could contact. In short, there was no way the school could continue to take responsibility without the help, or accountability, of a relative or guardian.
“If you chase these boys from school, you are chasing them away from their future” were Shadrack’s exact words to the headmaster. “He saw that I was serious, and after a long discussion, he agreed to readmit the twins, so long as I took responsibility for their behaviour, and organised a uniform for them”.
The twins of Justicia: Sipho & Sizwe in their school uniforms
Today the twins from Justicia are in Grade 10. With the help of Good Work Foundation (GWF), Shadrack has provided the twins with a full school uniform and has enrolled them in the GWF International Computer Driving License course at Madlala Digital Learning Centre. Shadrack helps with homework when he is home, and corresponds with the school to monitor the twin’s progress. Shadrack is on a mission to make sure that they graduate.
“I started off in the same boat as the twins” says Shadrack. “I got a lucky break when I was offered a job in bush banqueting at Londolozi. Once there, I knew I wanted to be a Tracker and then, one day, a Ranger. Kate Groch and Gogo Mo from Good Work Foundation believed in me. Kate tutored me through my FGASA level 1 and then the foundation provided me with a salary to support my family, including my parents, during my one-year course at the Tracker Academy. Without that support, I would not have been able to study.”
Shadrack doing what he does best: tracking down the Big 5. Shadrack studied for one year through the Tracker Academy. With the help of Good Work Foundation, he is now studying for his “Trails Guide Level 1”
“What stands out for me” says Kate Groch, CEO of Good Work Foundation, “is that Mr. Shadrack Mkabela is only 26 years old. He is a leader. A leader of his own life, but also of the people around him. What he has achieved for himself, and what he has done for two other young men is remarkable. In working to change a small portion of events, Shadrack’s empathy and courage will send out ripples of change and shape a tiny fraction of the next generation. That’s the future.”
“One last thing” says Shadrack grinning, “don’t forget that if you lose track, there is always a plan B.”
What a FABULOUS post!! One person CAN make a difference!! Well done Shadrack!!! Thanks you for sharing and Happy Valentine’s Day to all @ Londolozi and the GWF!!
Happy Valentine’s Day to you too Geri. I will be sure to pass on your message to Shadrack!
Londolozi–You are absolutely a treasure for the people and animals in our world!
Congratulations Shadrack – what a fantastic example
What an inspiration too bad there aren’t more people like you Shadrack. You should be very proud!
My wife and I will be at Londolozi in early May 2014 for a week with Mike Karantonis. We would be honored if we could have shadrack as our tracker. thank you for sharing this wonderful story, and thanks to Shadrack for making this a better World.
Hi Ed. What a great thought. I have sent your request through to reservations. We can’t promise anything, but we will try our very best!
What an inspirational young man Shadrack is. I hope Sipo and Sizwe pay it forward and help someone in need when the opportunity arises for them. We wish them all well and thank you Londolozi for the part you play in South Africa’s continued growth and betterment for it’s animals and people.
Evette, I will ask Shadrack to keep us up-to-date on Sipho and Sizwe. Thanks for sharing your positive words.
Wonderful story!
That is just fantastic Shadrack, congratulations on your successes! You are a very kind, caring and hard-working man. It’s also really wonderful to hear about the great work that the GWF is continuing to do!
How wonderful to read of all the good things happening in your area…..Londolozi/GWF…unbeatable combination!
An impeccable young man. Well done Shad!
What an amazing young man! Well done Shadrack! Your family and friends must be so proud of you..
There is a saying: “To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.”
I am sure this is how those two young men feel about you.. You mean the world to them…
Thank you for being one who really means to make the world a better place.
Thank you MJ for sharing that quote. I have never heard it before, but it sums up this story perfectly. I’ll be sure to pass it on to Shadrack as well!
What a heartwarming story. Londolozi opens the doors for so many wonders for their guests and for the people who work there. We are looking forward to visiting for our third time next month and we can’t wait.
My family and I were incredibly lucky to have Shadrack. His heart and his smile are both so big, I couldn’t help but being drawn to him. He is not only an amazing tracker, but also quite talented in helping me figure out the lighting and iso on my camera. Without his help, I would have never gotten the shots that I did. Thank you my friend.
Also, my family and I had the great honor of visiting the school talked about in the blog. The school there has done an amazing job with the little resources they have. The village itself is humble, and the people are so friendly. There is so much we take for granted here in the states. Many of these people have very little, but judging by the smiles on their faces, you would think they held the world in their hands. We brought with us school supplies, but my goal is to make yearly donations to help the school in anyway we can. These guides spend time away from their families to do the life changing work the do. Seeing “Shaddy” and his daughter interact at school was something that will always stay with me. Namaste my friend Shadrack. From Texas, namaste.