COLUMBIA, S.C. — Sumter twins Davon and Tavon Woods continue to do their part to raise awareness for kids in the foster care system.
After three years of advocating for children experiencing neglect, the twins are hosting a protest in Columbia to speak on concerns and evoke change.
"That's what led us to, you know, started sharing our story because we understand that there's so much of the kids that's going through what we go through, but a lot of people don't speak up about it. So, it was a brave thing for us to do," Tavon Woods said.
The Woods brothers are known for this bravery as their passion for change and awareness grows.
It started when they were kids after enduring the same pain when placed into the system at birth and later adopted at two years old.
Years later, they reveal that many others still face the same thing in the system.
"A lot of our stories are pretty similar. A lot of us experienced, you know, neglect, abuse-- physical, mental abuse -- and so many other things that I can name. So a lot of our stories are pretty similar," Davon Woods said.
For the past three years, the twins have pushed for change in different ways, hoping that more people will understand the severity of their mission.
In the past, they undertook a 600-mile walk to raise awareness, beginning at the Sumter courthouse and ending in Philadelphia.
We've been doing this, now, going on three years; we quit our jobs, sacrificed everything," Davon said. "Like, we don't get paid doing what we do. We're not a nonprofit, you know, so it's just basically just putting our faith in God. and showing kids like us that anything is possible."
Now, they’re planning a Foster Kids Matter protest in Columbia to continue to be a voice for those who can’t speak up until all voices are eventually heard.
"Oftentimes, when a lot of us kids speak up, nobody don't wanna listen until it's too late. So, that's why me and my brother go so hard knowing what we do," Davon said. "Because we know what it feel like to be a child growing up and have to experience all of this hurt and pain and you going around all of these people, and they don't have no idea."
"I just feel like us, talking about subjects like this, kind of lift that rug up and expose the stuff that people have been hiding for years and years," Tavon said.
The Foster Kids Matter protest will occur on Saturday, Sept. 7, starting at 4 p.m. at the Richland County Courthouse in Columbia.