Keeping Children Safe Within Families
I once was lost but now
I once was lost but now...
Anthony‟s was first alerted to the plight of the Ndebele Family in early January 2010 by a concerned member of the local Community Forum. The family, which includes a mother and her five children aged between 6 and 14 years, had suffered the loss of their father in December 2009. They were suffering from chronic poverty with no water, electricity or sanitation. The mother was suffering from alcohol addiction and, combined with her large amount of debt, there was not enough money for food or clothing for the children. The children were often left with no parental supervision and so had to ask for food and accommodation from their neighbours. They were not attending school regularly and this led to one of the children failing their Grade.
After visiting the family and observing these conditions, St. Anthony‟s Family Preservation Team immediately reported the case to the local councillor and began to provide Intensive Family Support services to the Ndebele Family; making home visits twice a week to assist them in their basic needs such as food and clothing. It was clear that the family lacked the crucial support system which an extended family network provides and so the Team began the process of searching for Ms. Ndelele‟s relatives, whom she had not seen or heard from in 14 years.
In July the brother of Ms. Ndebele was successfully located at Msinga and the Team was warmly welcomed by him and his wife who were so thankful for having his sister returned, who once was lost but now is found!
On August 13th ,brother and sister were reunited for the first time in 14 years. It was a very emotional and special day which the Team will always remember as a day which confirmed the rewards of the work which they strive so hard to do. On that day Ms. Ndebele was asked by her brother to come and live with him at Msinga and to be part of a family once again.
Over the next 4 months the Ndebele family was prepared for reunification with their family. The mother and her 5 children attended counselling sessions at St. Anthony‟s Centre and the Intensive Family Support and home visits continued. On December 14th the Ndebele family packed their small amount of household belongings into St. Anthony‟s car and left Blaauwbosch behind forever. They arrived at Msinga into the open arms of her brother and were able to celebrate Christmas together after so many years apart. As of March 2011 the family is doing well, the children are schooling and Ms. Ndebele is independent of alcohol and works on her vegetable garden at home.
Anthony‟s was first alerted to the plight of the Ndebele Family in early January 2010 by a concerned member of the local Community Forum. The family, which includes a mother and her five children aged between 6 and 14 years, had suffered the loss of their father in December 2009. They were suffering from chronic poverty with no water, electricity or sanitation. The mother was suffering from alcohol addiction and, combined with her large amount of debt, there was not enough money for food or clothing for the children. The children were often left with no parental supervision and so had to ask for food and accommodation from their neighbours. They were not attending school regularly and this led to one of the children failing their Grade.
After visiting the family and observing these conditions, St. Anthony‟s Family Preservation Team immediately reported the case to the local councillor and began to provide Intensive Family Support services to the Ndebele Family; making home visits twice a week to assist them in their basic needs such as food and clothing. It was clear that the family lacked the crucial support system which an extended family network provides and so the Team began the process of searching for Ms. Ndelele‟s relatives, whom she had not seen or heard from in 14 years.
In July the brother of Ms. Ndebele was successfully located at Msinga and the Team was warmly welcomed by him and his wife who were so thankful for having his sister returned, who once was lost but now is found!
On August 13th ,brother and sister were reunited for the first time in 14 years. It was a very emotional and special day which the Team will always remember as a day which confirmed the rewards of the work which they strive so hard to do. On that day Ms. Ndebele was asked by her brother to come and live with him at Msinga and to be part of a family once again.
Over the next 4 months the Ndebele family was prepared for reunification with their family. The mother and her 5 children attended counselling sessions at St. Anthony‟s Centre and the Intensive Family Support and home visits continued. On December 14th the Ndebele family packed their small amount of household belongings into St. Anthony‟s car and left Blaauwbosch behind forever. They arrived at Msinga into the open arms of her brother and were able to celebrate Christmas together after so many years apart. As of March 2011 the family is doing well, the children are schooling and Ms. Ndebele is independent of alcohol and works on her vegetable garden at home.
St. Anthony's HomePO Box 1824, Newcastle, 2940Website: www.stanthonyshome.orgEmail: admin@stanthonyshome.orgPhone: 034 366 72 99Fax: 034 366 72 23
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