AFTER spending years on the wrong side of the tracks, a young man has decided to plough back into the community as part of his journey to make amends for past mistakes.

Lucien Faro from Manenberg has dug deep into his own pockets to feed the poor, and together with his wife, Nadia, and her grandparents, the foursome provides lunch for dozens of underprivileged people every week.

Faro was released from prison a year ago and started a new life with his high school sweetheart, who was a single mother of two.

The couple got married and moved into Nadia’s grandparents’ backyard.

“It was Nadia’s grandmother who inspired me,” says Faro. “She taught me how to be thankful for what I have. The soup kitchen that she ran gave me the idea for the project. By feeding others I can ask for forgiveness,” he says.

The residents in the queue are all happy with the project. “We are all unemployed and this helps us feed our kids,” says one man.

“Imagine if all Manenberg’s parolees could do this, then no one would go hungry,” added another.

“We want our children to have a plate of healthy food every day, so that they have a better life and can make better choices. No child can learn on an empty stomach,” a young mother says.

Faro is part of Proudly Manenberg’s Parolee Project, which acknowledges that parolees don’t have an easy time on their return from prison, as they have to reconnect with their families and struggle to find work.

Faro says various companies rejected him because of his criminal record.

Joan Cloete, the organisation’s parolee organiser, says that everyone deserves a second chance and a helping hand.

“We encourage parolees to take responsibility and to start doing good instead of bad. Faro has the right idea. In Proudly Manenberg we have the national government programme called the Community Work Programme which gives us the chance to employ parolees doing useful work for eight days a month. They only earn R500 but this helps them to survive.”

Anyone able to support the project with donations of food or any other assistance contact Cloete on 0737237472.