Thomas has turned his life around from being homeless to a life where he is a ray of hope for those who are currently fighting the battles of life he once fought. Now, he’s on a mission to support more struggling lives not just through his own experience but education, with hopes to study further!
Cape Town, South Africa (01 February 2024) — Not long ago, life looked very different for Thomas Willimas.
Once homeless, Thomas mustered up enough courage and hope in his heart to get himself back on track. Not only has he celebrated 10 months of sobriety, he is also no longer homeless. Better yet, he’s now in a position where he actively supports the homeless community and stands as a ray of hope for so many who find themselves in one of life’s most hopeless places.
How did he do it?
Thomas joined the Secret Love Project and Streetscapes. If homelessness were a dark road, these two organisations and their initiatives are the streetlights guiding you back to yourself, and to better opportunities. Where streetscapes create work opportunities for the homeless (from cleaning up the streets to gardening and farming), the Secret Love Project focuses on the LOVEconomy. Through this, destitute people sell heart stickers instead of begging.
As Streetscapes’ shares, “Thomas Willaims joined Streetscapes as a client, battling all the issues that pull down the unhomed. During the ensuing years, Tom has repeatedly overcome and prevailed, becoming a highly valued member of our Peer Support Group.”
Thomas works now as a peer support worker at Streetscapes where he helps others as part of the holistic approach the organisation takes to getting lives out of the gutter. He also works at the Secret Love Project every Friday.
But his dream now is to touch more lives while being armed with as much helpful information as possible. Thomas is rallying to study further and hopes to become well-versed in Social Auxiliary Work!
Completing the course would help him help others not only from a place of experience but knowledge.
His campaign has already raised over R10,000, with the most inspiring notes of support from so many donors. You can support Thomas (and all those he will undoubtedly help on their own hopeful journeys from the streets) here.
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