Colleen Visagie, 46, from Mariannhill cares for abandoned children from her community, through her non-profit organisation (NPO) “Living Without Limits” operating in Marianhill. She is this week’s Unsung Hero.
Visagie also runs a crèche and looks after children whose parents are not around during the day, and uses the profits from that business to sustain the NPO.
She has been running the organisation for 20 years, after a local pastor Reuben Naidoo offered her a house on the church premises, from which to do her work.
She was inspired by her mother to help others after her mother assisted an abandoned child.
Visagie at the NPO works alongside seven volunteers.
“We take care of children primarily from Mariannhill. We can never close our doors to those who also need our help, regardless of where they come from,” she said.
The children from all ages are brought to the organisation by the locals in the area.
She said that she drew motivation to do her work from God.
“I am really pushed by God to give it my all. Some people find it strange, but it is really just him.
“He always makes things work out. You speak to him like he is a regular human being. Even when I experience difficulty with the children, I just speak to him and ask for his guidance, then I say ‘speak to them like how you speak to me’ and they are beautiful children who listen and want to help,” said Visagie.
She said that she encountered some obstacles with running the organisation.
“Some of the children face challenges with their academics and struggle to grasp some of their school work.
“I want to see them finishing school and studying further, but their inability to learn and the lack of support from the schools is posing a hindrance in their academic journey,” said Visagie.
Visagie is married and is a mother to a 23-year-old son.
“I do not take life too seriously. I try to get what needs to be done, done. However, if there is a hiccup along the way, even with the children, I always emphasise to them that they should not take life too seriously,” said Visagie.
She said that she envisioned the organisation reaching greater heights.
“God has told me that it will grow. We will get things right. At the moment, the place is being refurbished,” said Visagie.