A Helderberg comeback kid embodies the age-old proverb “It takes a village to raise a child”, serving as a poster boy of the success obtainable if a community truly unites to enforce positive change allowing children a chance at thriving in a safe and healthy environment.
Just over a year ago social service professionals of the Helderberg branch of Child Welfare South Africa managed to safeguard a teenage boy living in harmful circumstances and begging on the streets to survive.
This child, “John” (whose real name is withheld to protect his true identity), had left school in 2020, as he was being bullied and, understandably, did not want to return to the same school. After the organisation put its shoulder to the wheel to ensure he was placed in a safe environment and different school by last May, John was not only doing well but also excelling academically.
The 17-year-old boasted being the Grade 10 learner with the best marks at the school in the current academic year.
“The take-home message should be that if children’s strengths are identified and their positive side nurtured and developed, they can overcome any circumstance,” said case social worker Denise Robyn.
Providing details of John’s background, she said he is originally from Firgrove, where he initially resided with his mother, grandmother and other family members. His father is deceased. Due to substance and domestic abuse, the grandmother moved out with John tagging along.
They found alternative accommodation in Macassar, where the youngster attended high school. Because there was no reason for statutory intervention Child Welfare opted not to intervene in John’s case. However, his mother was known to the organisation after her two youngest children were placed in foster care with their paternal grandmother outside the service delivery area.
But its involvement started with a home visit for further assessment of the parent’s circumstances, compelled by family reunification responsibilities, conducted by Robyn and fellow social worker Melony Williams. Robyn then learnt John had returned home despite dire circumstances, which included substance abuse by all family members of the unhygienic household, except the then 15-year-old who took responsibility for his mother’s well-being.
The pair of social workers then took an active interest in the teenager’s life, well-being and future.
In the process, John indicated his interest in returning to school – but not the same school, where he had suffered bullying possibly due to his background, which was manifest in his appearance, forcing him to drop out of Grade 9. While cooperating with regular office appointments and home visits, his main concern was his mother, who was always found standing at traffic lights and making a living begging from motorists.
“We often witnessed how she would make sure John had a few rands to buy chips or something to eat,” Robyn said. “But this lifestyle was not conducive to any child’s well-being and an investigation into possible placement options for John was made – a very difficult task especially because of his age.”
With no other family to take him in, including paternal relatives unwilling to open up their homes to him, John preferred not to be placed in a children’s shelter. The social workers then made contact with his father’s wife, “Brenda” (also a pseudonym).
The Stellenbosch resident was willing to accommodate him, yet the official statutory removal and placement process was hindered owing to certain clearances needed as part of proper documentation that allow the courts to place a child in alternative care.
“Sadly, John had made friends with other homeless children and would roam the streets daily, looking for money or food and eating from rubbish bins,” Robyn related. “The latter resulted in Brenda deciding to take John in and not wait for a statutory placement because of his suffering. Over a weekend in March last year, as arranged, John’s grandmother took him to Brenda’s house and left him in her care.”
Prioritising his safety over the unfinalised placement, Robyn and Williams made work of getting him enrolled at a Stellenbosch school. John picked up his schooling again after the March school holidays and has reported incredible progress during a recent follow-up visit.
According to Robyn, John’s average marks for Grade 9 were as follows: Afrikaans Home Language 73%; English First Additional Language 59%; mathematics 78%; natural science 86%; social sciences 62%; economic and management sciences 94%; technology 54%; arts and culture 73%; and life orientation 79%. John’s marks for March this year were: Afrikaans Home Language 47%; English First Additional Language 68%; maths literacy 78%; LO 75%; business studies 93%; computer applications technology 56%; and tourism 91%.
These results made John the learner with the best marks in Grade 10 at the school and brings him one step closer to realising his dream of being an entrepreneur one day.
While social workers considered this excellent, their commitment to journeying with John compelled them to prioritise further action, which they hope will aid greater academic progress and success. These efforts are exemplary of the services rendered at Child Welfare SA Helderberg, which is a dedicated child protection organisation.
“We render services to children in need of care and protection, from early intervention services to statutory services such as the removal of children which remains a last resort,” said Robyn.
“The belief in the immense potential of children to develop to be whole, be effective in their daily living experiences is at the core of this organisation. The nurturing and support that children and families get allows them to look at their strengths despite circumstances and crisis.”
V For more information on the organisation, contact its offices located in Dummer Street, Somerset West, on 021 852 3126. Alternatively, visit www.childwelfarehelderberg.co.za.
