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Artvision “Real Life Skills Academy”によるThe Story of Art vision Academy - The Night of Lights
For as long as we could remember, the old abandoned Addington children’s hospital had been home to a group of street kids. The building with its crumbling walls and faded murals of smiling bears, was a place of shelter and secrets. At night, we would gather in the old playroom, telling stories and dreaming of better days.
One evening, as dusk settled over the city, something unusual happened. We returned from our daily scavenging to find the hospital bathed in a soft, golden glow. Strings of fairy lights hung from the windows, and colorful banners fluttered in the breeze. The air buzzed with excitement and the sweet scent of freshly baked treats.
“Look!” whispered Zanele, her eyes wide with wonder. “What’s going on?”
From our hiding place behind a broken window, we watched as people in elegant clothes arrived, laughing and chatting. There were tables covered in white cloth, towers of cupcakes, and a stage where musicians played gentle tunes. The hospital, once forgotten, was alive with hope and joy.
Among the guests was Mr. Vivian Reddy, a well-known businessman and philanthropist. He moved through the crowd, greeting everyone with a warm smile. I recognized him from newspaper clippings we’d found—he was someone who helped people, someone who made things happen. That night, I watched in awe as the crowd cheered and Mr. Reddy took the stage.
He spoke about the importance of giving every child a safe health care place to sleep and dream, saying, “The future belongs to the children.” Then he announced a generous donation to restore the hospital and create a new shelter for children in need.
The crowd erupted in, and for a moment, we felt like we were part of something bigger—a community that cared.
As the event drew to a close and the guests began to depart, we saw Mr. Reddy standing in the yard, speaking with a few people. I was gazing at his sleek Rolls-Royce parked nearby.
He asked if do I love his car summoning my courage, I respectfully approached him as I agreed while introducing myself. He asked what were we doing there as I was with other street kids, we shared our street life stories with him, after inspiring us with motivations he then handed me his business card and concluded with his inspiring motivations that ‘If you can dream it, you can achieve it.’
As the night grew darker, the event reached its peak. A large banner was unveiled: “Fundraiser for a New Children’s Hospital.”
