At 24 years of age Lerato is already the mother of three young children, ages six, two and a half, and nine months. The smile on her face masks a story of pain and hardship; thanks to the Gift of Hope sponsorship, Lerato is now able to look toward the future with hope for herself and her children.

This is the story of Cindy, a young, courageous girl who has faced extraordinary loss and unimaginable challenges, yet still has hope for her future and that of her daughter, Thembilihle, meaning “beautiful hope”.

The baby’s Zulu name, Amahle, translates as “beautiful”, a perfect description for the dark chocolate skin as smooth as velvet, and the big brown eyes that kept a close watch on me from across the small room.