Feb 25, 2022 | Blog
How many New Year’s resolutions did you make this year? How many have you actively focussed on over the past two months? I think it’s safe to say that many of us have great intentions however fall short with the follow through. I have often pondered on this after a session with a young person which has focussed on the need for change in some area of their behaviour and have always been compassionate when the identified and often deeply desired change does not happen within the discussed time frame.
Definitions of change talk to ‘an act or process through which something becomes different’. ‘A transitioning of something to another state or condition’. I like to use the analogy of the metamorphosis, (a Greek word that means to change in shape), of a butterfly to encourage young people not to give up after one or a few attempts to change a certain aspect of their behaviour.
In our work with children and youth we believe in the power of the Strengths-based approach which focusses on existing strengths and not their weaknesses. It is this approach that creates an environment that encourages and enables young people to keep trying.
Wayne Hammond and Rob Zimmerman set out the principles of the Strengths-based approach in the following manner; that all people have strengths and capacities, that people can change, that given the right conditions and resources, a person’s capacity to learn and grow can be nurtured and realized, that people change and grow through their strengths and capacities, that people are experts of their own situation, that the problem is the problem, not the person, that problems can blind people from noticing and appreciating their strengths and capacity to find their own meaningful solutions, that all people want good things for themselves and have good intentions, that people are doing the best they can in light of their experiences and that the ability to change is within us!
One of our teenage girls proved this to be true when she courageously facilitated a session on ‘’change’’ with her peers. She has found the secret – change comes from within, when we determine that areas of our behaviour need to change, then begin to believe that we can, and then decide to take the first step and then the next and the next – and suddenly when we look at ourselves, we see it; a beautiful butterfly!
https://www.esd.ca/Programs/Resiliency/Documents/RSL_STRENGTH_BASED_PERSPECTIVE.pdf
Feb 15, 2022 | News
Every child deserves to grow up in the warm heart of a family. Sadly, it’s not possible for so many of today’s little ones.
Nompilo’s mother died shortly after she was born, and she was placed in a children’s home. A few years ago, the home closed down and Nompilo came to us.
But this young girl never believed she was an orphan. She remembered visits from her father when she was little. She also remembered the visits coming to an abrupt end, although she didn’t know why.
Thus began our search for Nompilo’s dad. Our social worker made contact with an agency social worker in the area where Nompilo was born. We asked her to go to the hospital to see if she could find out the name of Nompilo’s father … and there it was in the hospital medical file. It was a huge blow to find out that he had died in 2008.
Seeing Nompilo’s disappointment, our social worker asked the agency worker to go to the father’s last known address. She hoped there might be other family members still living there. Sadly, it was not so. But a neighbour recalled having seen two family members in the town. She promised to keep an eye open and pass on the agency worker’s number if she saw them again. And so it was that Nompilo finally made contact with her paternal aunt and grandfather.
They were beyond grateful to have found their ‘lost’ child. Nompilo, who turns 18 in a couple of months, has decided to return into their care.
Although we strive to give children placed with us the best possible care and attention, the truth is that there is no substitute for a real family. We are always so excited when it becomes possible for a child to return to his or her family. And we strive to work with family members to make reintegration possible, wherever it is in the best interests of the child.
Feb 15, 2022 | News
When we shared Pamela’s* story with you at the end of last year, we never dreamed how deeply it would touch your heart. For the past seven years, Pamela and her siblings have spent every Christmas here at the Durban Child & Youth Care Centre, because they have no family to go to at this special time of year.
Your response was nothing short of phenomenal! From invitations to take the children out to donations towards gifts and treats, you showered the siblings … and 50 other children who remained with us over the holidays … with love. Thank you!
Special thanks to Toys R Us who donated gifts to the value of R12 000 – as well as East Coast Radio who made the kids the recipient of their Big Favour. You cannot imagine how much joy and excitement your kindness gave.
If you remember Pamela’s story, you’ll know that shortly before Christmas, our social worker managed to trace the children’s paternal grandparents in Mpumalanga. Although the granny indicated that she wanted to become involved in Pamela’s life, inter-provincial transport posed a big problem, both logistically and financially. We were certain that any plans made would fall through and the children would once again be badly let down.
But our social worker received an unexpected call from the grandparents. They had borrowed a car and were on their way to Durban to pick Pamela up for the school holidays. Oh the excitement, the jubilation when they arrived!
The visit was a resounding success and the outcome is that Pamela will be placed with her grandpaents at the end of this year. We are working on having her younger siblings transferred to a Child & Youth Care Centre in Mpumalanga, so the children will be able to see each other frequently, and there will be contact with the extended family.
Pamela’s story turned into a real Christmas miracle!
*Name changed to protect identity
Feb 15, 2022 | News
Today I was reminded that, no matter how dire the situation, we should never write off a child.
Sipho left our Centre two years ago. He had just failed matric and was returning to a home beset with poverty. Apart from his academic challenges, he also struggled with social skills, having been raised by a granny with psychiatric challenges.
But, instead of being defeated and sinking into hopelessness, Sipho chose to redo Grade 11 and then matric. And today he came to show us his results: a Bachelor pass with 1 distinction and 2 ‘B’s’!
How amazing, how wonderful! A story of determination and resilience, which saw this young man overcome so many obstacles to succeed against all the odds.
This story reminds me how important and worthwhile our services are to vulnerable and at-risk children. It is an honour and privilege to do this work. The responsibility is great and often overwhelming; however, the reward is priceless.
Sipho’s beaming face is all the encouragement our child care team needs to face 2022 with the courage that will surely be required as we navigate the many obstacles that are sure to come our way.
I hope that we can count on you to continue your journey with us this year.
Feb 15, 2022 | News
Creativity, puzzle solving and fine motor skills were just a few of the lessons learned by our children during a fun morning building with Lego. Sets of the popular building blocks were kindly donated by World Sports Betting.
Our Child and Youth Care Team identified that when they gave a child a limited number of blocks to complete their project, they learnt that each piece counted! They began to understand that, regardless of the colour, shape or size, each piece is crucial to completing a whole puzzle.
In the same way, each one of our children counts, and is important to our Centre, our community and our world.
