scrapbook - changing lives

Meet ‘J’

One of five children in her household, J struggled to gain attention from her mother, often being overlooked in favour of her older siblings. She didn’t have the basic opportunities that many children enjoy and as a result, has endured a stressful time at school and at home. When she developed severe head lice, with sores all over her scalp and even down her back, she was taunted by her school friends and even isolated from the classroom to prevent the lice from spreading. As if that wasn’t traumatic enough, J was hospitalised and had her head shaved, leaving her self-confidence at such a low that she refused to take off her hat and coat when in public. Her young life was lived as if in a shell, which she refused to come out of.

Conditions at home were poor, and J would think nothing of eating food from the floor, no matter how dirty it might be. The situation became so bad that she was taken into foster care and separated from her siblings, only adding to her confidence and esteem issues. On a number of occasions, she ran away from care, with no brothers and sisters or friends in the area to turn to. Throughout this difficult time, her befriending relationship has been the only constant. Befriend A Child were there to help her through the tough times. The befriending relationship is one of trust, fun, and education and has allowed J to have access to a positive adult role model who she can rely on and learn from. J has gained the confidence to learn to swim, and looks forward with eagerness to her few hours with her befriender every month, when she can play crazy golf, walk on the beach or enjoy an ice cream!  She has developed social skills over the past few years which have made her a well rounded young girl, who recognises the importance of politeness and socially acceptable behaviour. J has had her frown turned upside down!

Other Lives Changed By Befriend A Child

B’s mum and dad had a very volatile relationship and split up. Dad abducted him from school one day, but soon dropped him off at his mum’s and said he did not want to see him again. The boy’s behaviour deteriorated and was very demanding on mum and his teachers at school. He was constantly getting into trouble in the playground and in the community and spent a lot of time in his room on his own. There was also a suspicion of him starting fires in the community.

Befriend A Child allocated him a male befriender. Both of them enjoy what they do together, from football in the park to playing pool. With a positive male role model in his life he started doing really well at school and was given the opportunity of sitting an exam for a fee-paying school in the city. He passed and started at the school this summer.

C (aged 10) stays with his mum in a sparse, poorly maintained flat. Mum is on a methadone programme and suffers from depression and as a result, C lacks self esteem and confidence and has very few personal belongings. He rarely speaks about his home life and will only discuss what he has done at school. He loves to go swimming but because of his low self esteem he thinks he is no good at it.

Befriend A Child have matched C with a befriender who takes him swimming whenever possible. By offering him lots of praise and encouragement, C’s self esteem is growing and now he has the confidence to try new activities.