PHOTOS & VIDEO: The bravest 15-year-old of them all
Rosa was ecstatic when KCVA called her to tell her that they would like to present Lucinda with a Bravery Award
The various groups within the Kruin Community Voluntary Association (KCVA), joined together with APCAN Security Group and the community, to present 15-year-old Lucinda Rosa Chadinha with a Bravery Award.
On Saturday 19 August the KCVA, arranged a bike drive from their headquarters in Helderkruin, to Tobie Street in Roodekrans to surprise her.
At about 12.10pm, Lucinda’s that day, sister, Bianca, quickly stepped out to the post office. She had told Lucinda to turn on the alarm until their mother arrived, but Lucinda was watching a movie and said she would do it shortly.
Not even five minutes after her sister had left, she heard a bang on the front door. She thought she had imagined it until she heard the second bang, which was much louder. Lucinda knew there were intruders in the house and her first instinct was to hide. She ran to her parent’s bathroom, closed the door and hid in the shower where the men would not be able to see her.
At 12.15pm, Rosa called her daughter to let her know that she was almost home, but she didn’t answer. Rosa didn’t think anything of it until she got home and noticed the front gate was open and there was a car in the yard that did not belong to anyone in their family. She tried to remain calm and recall if anyone at the house was expecting guests, but when she looked up she noticed a stranger standing at their front door. He called the others who were with him and the four of them charged towards her car.
Rosa quickly sped to the stop street a few metres from their house and called the KCVA to ask for help. “All I could think was, ‘my girls, my girls, have they done something to my girls?’” Rosa explained. She drove back to her house immediately, but the four men had already gone.
Within minutes, the KCVA team arrived to help the mother and daughter get police assistance, arrange for trauma counselling and support them through their ordeal. Lucinda was visibly shaken, but said she was okay.
Rosa was ecstatic when KCVA called her to tell her that they would like to present Lucinda with a Bravery Award. On 19 August, Lucinda was unaware of what was about to happen; she was called outside moments before the bikers and APCAN cars drove up her road revving their engines loudly. Her initial confusion soon changed to surprise and happiness.
She was presented with a total of three awards by APCAN Security Group and the various groups within the KCVA. Lucinda received a T-shirt and framed certificate from the KCVA; and APCAN presented her with a certificate, a teddy bear and a box of delicious candy. The cherry on top was the exquisite, glass plaque the KCVA Bikers had made especially for her.
Throughout the gathering, the smile never left Lucinda’s face despite her tears while she received the awards. The various KCVA groups and APCAN thanked Lucinda for her courage and said they hoped that her story would send a wave of positivity through the community. The joyous 15-year-old was even taken on a ride on the back of one of the bikes around her neighbourhood.
“It was so special and important to have a support system like that in the community, and we are so grateful and very appreciative of what they’re doing,” said Lucinda’s other sister, Daniella.
