The story of Sammy’s life before St. Anthony’s is one of continual abandonment and rejection. First her mother abandoned her with a friend, then she was abandoned by them at the hospital, from where she was taken to a Child and Youth Care Centre. This Centre found her a Foster Family whom Sammy lived with from the age of 5 years and whom she always believed was her biological family.

However, even in this Foster Family, who should have provided her with a loving home, Sammy experienced rejection and emotional abuse in the form of continuous verbal cruelty. The Foster Parent eventually rejected Sammy and she was again taken into the care of the Department of Social Development.
 
It was in 2008 that Sammy found herself placed at St. Anthony’s and it was from here that her life was finally going to be changed for the better. The work of our Social Worker, Mooi Mlambo, and the family reunification officer, Kwazi Mgaga, led to the discovery of Sammy’s maternal biological family at Paulpietersberg.  Her aunt was traced and from her we discovered that Sammy’s mother had passed away 2 years before. However, her aunt was very happy to hear that Sammy was alive and safe and she gave us the details of her uncle who is living close to St. Anthony’s, at Madadeni.
 
We were able to contact Sammy’s uncle and he and his wife were happy to meet Sammy. She was welcomed with open arms and her uncle was delighted to find that she is alive and able to be reunited with him. For the first time in her life Sammy has been able to experience the true and unconditional love of her family. A child who has been alone in this world her whole life, at last has found she belongs and is loved by her real family.
 
Sammy spent the Christmas holidays of 2009 with her uncle and his family and they make regular weekend visits to see her. She is always welcome at their home and finally feels like she belongs.

This sense of belonging has affected her in so many positive ways. It has given her self confidence, enabled her to improve in her studies at school, and she has now been able to make friends with other children both in St. Anthony’s and out. ‘Family’ really is the best place for a child. It is that sense of belonging and unconditional love which allows a child to grow physically, mentally and emotionally. Sammy is just one of the many success stories of St. Anthony’s and our efforts in tracing and reuniting families.

*certain names have been altered to maintain the privacy of the children concerned