Donovan Buys
Donovan flourished at Vuyani. He caught up at school, excelled in African drumming and practical skills, delivered newspapers before school, and earned free maths lessons by helping in his school’s maths centre. His enthusiasm, determination and gratitude made him a role model among the children.
Donovan was the very first child welcomed into Vuyani Safe Haven in 2000. At just eight years old, he was living on the streets of Graaff-Reinet after growing up with an absent father and an alcoholic mother. Rejected by his extended family, he survived by begging, sniffing glue and sleeping wherever he could. One day, Moira Strauss found him asleep in the doorway of her souvenir shop. When he told her he had nowhere to go, it inspired her to establish a safe place for children living on the streets.
Working with the Department of Social Development and Child Welfare, Moira discovered that Donovan was one of many vulnerable children in the town. Together with concerned community members, she founded Vuyani Safe Haven. The children themselves chose the name Vuyani—the Xhosa word for “joy”—because it reflected the hope, safety and belonging they had found after life on the streets.
In recognition of his remarkable progress, Donovan was selected as an Olympic Torch Bearer in 2004. Chosen from thousands of nominees, he proudly carried the torch in Cape Town before handing it to soccer legend Lucas Radebe. Afterwards, Donovan insisted that the true hero was not himself, but Moira Strauss, whose love and belief had transformed his life.
Although Donovan did not complete matric and experienced a difficult period after leaving school, he continued making and selling intricate wire sculptures while remaining connected to Vuyani through its drumming and youth activities. His life changed again in 2014 when local dentist Dr Bernard Beukes recognised his remarkable craftsmanship and offered him a position at Dentists@Health.
Today, Donovan is a valued laboratory technician and handyman, known for his reliability, kindness, and strong work ethic. Outside of work he continues creating wire art and spends many weekends coaching soccer for children from disadvantaged communities, determined to help them choose a different path from the one he once walked.
Donovan often says he had heard the word “love” while living on the streets but only understood its true meaning after arriving at Vuyani. His journey is a testament to the life-changing power of compassion, opportunity and a community that refuses to give up on a child.
