Residents from the Mother City and from across the world have taken it upon themselves to lend a helping hand to former Angolan child solider‚ Jose Maria Joao. Earlier this month‚ Joao‚ an experienced mountain runner and “much-loved member of the community”‚ had to be airlifted from one of Cape Town’s most well-known hiking trails‚ Lion’s Head‚ after slipping 50m off a ledge.Ex-child soldier muscles in on a peaceful life in the CapeHe's a slab of muscle, coated in sweat, staring into the camera. Almost imperceptibly, his giant pectorals flex. According to the South African fund raising service‚ Backabuddy‚ donors have raised over R133‚000 in order to help Joao‚ the smiling face of Power and Glory Bar on Kloofnek Road‚ whose injuries included a broken tibia‚ cracked ribs and damage to his pelvis‚ kidney and lung.“To help out Joao with his medical and rehab expenses‚ Joao's employer Adam Whiteman and a patron at the bar‚ Miriam Mannak‚ launched a crowd-funding drive.“By Saturday 23rd July‚ the amount raised by members of the public stood at R106‚000‚” said a statement from BackabuddyJoao was 15 years old when he was captured by UNITA rebels‚ who forced him to become a child soldier. His story was turned into an acclaimed mini-documentary‚ Run José.According to Mannak‚ since going live on Friday‚ donations had poured in.“It is incredibly heart-warming to see how Cape Town and the rest of the world – José has fans everywhere – have come together to ensure that he will be on Lion's Head sooner rather than later.”Backabuddy added that the funds will be used to cover Joao's hospital stay‚ medical expenses‚ rehab and physiotherapy‚ any additional medical costs‚ as well as his living expenses whilse recovering.“Whatever is left will be put in a savings fund for Joao and a donation to the mountain rescue team is also on the cards.”Medical professionals have also pledged their time and skills to help Joao with his rehab and recovery."Humanity has truly shown its beautiful side this week‚” Mannak said.Despite being captured as a teenager by UNITA‚ the anti-government rebel force which was engaged in Angola’s civil war‚ Joao described himself as “a peacemaker” in an article about him in the Sunday Times. He helped out at a city centre soup kitchen every Wednesday.“On home turf in Tamboerskloof‚ Joao is a familiar figure‚" reported the newspaper. “He waves back to people by making a peace sign with his fingers; the gold tooth in the middle of his smile appears radiant rather than threatening.“In 2000‚ a dream shook him awake early one morning and he felt compelled to flee the conflict that had robbed him of his innocence and his family. So he started to walk to South Africa‚” the report read.“I like Cape Town too much because it is peaceful. I love all of the people and everyone knows me. It’s nice‚” he said...