Have you ever thought about the legacy you’ll leave behind?

For most of us, it’s not about wealth or possessions … it’s about love. The love we’ve given to our families, our friends, and – if we’re lucky – the difference we’ve made in the lives of others.

At the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre, we see every day how powerful love can be. It’s what turns frightened, withdrawn children into little ones who laugh, play and dream again. It’s what restores trust, hope and confidence in young lives broken by neglect and abuse.

Sipho knows this better than most. When he was just a baby, he lost his mother, and later his father turned to drinking, leaving him and his siblings neglected. Social services brought them to the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre – and that’s when his life began to change.

“I used to be a naughty kid while living here,” Sipho admits, “but the constant love, the constant care, the constant kindness we were shown, and the opportunities we were exposed to, have led me to become the person I am today.”

Today, Sipho is 24 years old, studying for a B.Com in Strategic Brand Management. He is creative, ambitious, and filled with gratitude for the opportunities and encouragement that shaped his journey. “My time at the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre has been the highlight of my life so far,” he says. “Thank you for never giving up on us.”

Sipho’s success is a living example of the kind of legacy you can leave behind.

During National Wills Week (9–13 September), please consider leaving a gift in your Will to the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre.

Wills Week is a nationwide initiative where participating attorneys draw up basic Wills free of charge. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make sure your affairs are in order — and at the same time, to think about the causes and people that matter most to you.

Even a small bequest to the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre in your will becomes part of something much bigger – the daily meals, warm beds, school uniforms, counselling and opportunities for growth that children here so desperately need.

Your legacy will mean that, long after you’ve gone, children who’ve been abandoned or orphaned will still have a safe place to call home. They’ll still be surrounded by care, encouragement and the chance of a brighter future …  just like Sipho was.

If you haven’t yet made a Will, this is the perfect week to do it. And if you already have, you can easily add the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre to it with a simple amendment.

It’s one of the most meaningful gifts you’ll ever give … because long after the possessions of this life are gone, love remains.