Success story of a troubled teenager

A few years back we received an application for a teenage girl from one of the child protection agencies we regularly work with. Shockingly the child was known to us, this would be the fifth time she was placed with us! "I must admit, on the day of her arrival I thought, 'Now we are going to have trouble!'”, said Mrs Lourens, executive officer at Huis Betlehem.

She was not an easy child; she knew the social system and her message to the rest of the group of teenage girls was clear: “be aware, I am difficult, and I am not standing back for anyone”.

With that attitude she nestled into the house along with the housemother and other teenagers. As time went by, the housemother had to figure out how to handle this young lady, she was already 17 years of age, but not yet in matric. She was angry, troubled, and felt abandoned and disappointed - the significant adults in her life didn’t want her and it was difficult for her to fit in anywhere. She was a tall, overweight adolescent, full of hormones, and really unsure how to handle herself. But somehow, through many conversations, especially with regards to religion and how faith in the Lord can help her, the housemother connected with her.

As the oldest in the house at the time and her claim to fame “not to stand back” attitude, the housemother formed an alliance with her to “help” with the younger girls and to be an example to them. The housemother and this young lady shared another “love” and this was to prepare food. The housemother boosted her ego, and helped her to prepare delicious and healthy meals. She also had a keen interest in the girl’s schoolwork, how she dressed, and taught her to take good care of herself.

She needed to leave the house at the age of 18, and had to live in an orphanage for a few months to finish her matric, but she was confident and able to face the world with a positive attitude. Today she is a lovely young woman - working and supporting herself. She even bonded with some of her family members and goes to church on a regular basis.

Her story made it clear to us that we made a difference in her life, especially this housemother who believed in her and provided the necessary support to send her away with confidence. She was also one of the reasons why we decided to make one of our houses a forster home. Some children, mostly because of their age, will never be able to bond with a new family, or be taken into foster care, but need the chance to be part of a family structure where they can be happy and safe, finish school and take on life as adults who had for a brief period in time, the chance to just be normal.