From Girls and Boys Town Youth

Thanks for everything you do! Our youth wanted to thank you personally …

“Thank you for all of your support and help. We really do appreciate what you have done, and continue to do. Thanks to you, Girls and Boys Town Magaliesburg is called home by many boys. Everything achieved by the boys, the staff and our community as a whole couldn’t have been possible without your help.”

“I would just like to say thank you for everything you’ve done for Girls and Boys Town.”

“You keep us alive. Thank you for your kind hearts – without you, we would have nothing. What I really mean to say is how much we, or should I say I, appreciate everything you do for us.”

“Thank you for the effort you go to for us – it is really amazing.”

“Thank you for being there for us Girls and Boys Town boys.”

– With much love from all of the boys and girls you’ve shown such kindness to.

Playing our part

Our Macassar youth recently played their part in giving back to the Cape Town community that supported them so wholeheartedly.

They picked up paintbrushes and went to work covering up the vandalism done by others. They painted a nearby reservoir and had a great time doing it!

From Mayors to Ambassadors

It takes a lot of hard work to reach the top, and many helping hands. Thanks to your loyal support, two of our boys not only worked their way to being mayors at Girls and Boys Town, but they’ve also been selected for a soccer leadership programme that will tour England in 2010.

These young leaders of the future will be ambassadors for South Africa next year when they show off not only their soccer skills, but their leadership abilities as well. They’ve been participating in the Amandla Ku Lutsha Football League and both boys have demonstrated their limitless potential.

As part of the senior league, the one young man completed a coaching course where he lead by example, encouraging his team mates along the way. As part of the junior league, the other never missed a session and was always enthusiastic.

We’re overjoyed by their success and know they join us in thanking you the donors who have supported Girls and Boys Town and given all the Girls and Boys Town youth the chance to shine.

New life, new home, new start

Before Dali arrived at Girls and Boys Town, he’d been struggling to make good choices and wasn’t attending school regularly. He battled to follow the rules set by his mother and their relationship was under a lot of pressure.

Patricia, his mother, felt like she’d let her children down. Her young daughter stayed with relatives while Patricia lived in a cramped room too small for the three of them. Dali often stayed with his grandmother, where he’d at least have a bed to sleep on.

Everything changed for them when Dali adjusted to life at Girls and Boys Town. His relationship with his mother improved as they began to talk to each other. Patricia said, “I didn’t listen to him before. I was always quick to blame him.” With the help of our Family Services worker, Patricia learnt to express her feelings and listen to Dali.

As her worries about Dali were eased, Patricia was able to develop herself, and she started studying part-time. She began looking for alternative housing and even found a job. And all her efforts paid off when she was given a house in a rural area where her daughter could stay too.

Dali meanwhile started making positive choices and attending school regularly. He’ll join his family at their new home in December when he leaves us. And although we’ll miss him, we can’t help but celebrate the success he’s made of himself.

Alive with possibilities

Prudence, a student social worker at one of our residential centres, will soon be leaving us. Her thoughts about her time at Girls and Boys Town:

“My stay has been very enlightening, and the experience I’ve gained has enriched me. I take pride in the fact that I could be part of Girls and Boys Town, and also that I could work with the first youth development centre in the country.

Like they say about South Africa, Girls and Boys Town too is ‘Alive with possibilities’. There’s so much promise in this place.

I thought of the young people as scary at first, I was petrified, but children are just children and this place is like a huge family. The staff were helpful and accommodating. It was like having additional mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters.