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Smelling good is a luxury for some. Some of us like to smell as if we have sprayed the whole can of deodorant at once. Others don’t, especially those who struggle with allergies. Yesterday, some teenage girls helped to carry items to my office. That’s when they saw the box of deodorant supplies. “Auntie, can we have deodorant please?” We would like to smell nice for the December holidays. Now how can I say no, I am an advocate for smelling good. The girls were so excited, the deodorant was being sprayed left and right. The office was filled with various fragrances. When the girls left, I realized how we take something like a can of nice deodorant for granted. For them, it is a luxury. And that is why we are so grateful to everyone who reaches out and supports Durbanville Children’s Home so that we can make it possible for our children to enjoy a little “luxury”. May this festive season and the new year be a time for blessings and well-being for you and your loved ones Love and gratitude from everyone at Durbanville Children’s Home.

In December there was a new admission to the Children’s Home, a beautiful boy of about 12 years old. When I saw him, the question arose in my mind: “Why is this child at the Children’s Home”? I felt sad because he reminded me of my son. I became so attached to this child; whenever I saw him, I had to give him a hug and a kiss. As time went on, not a day went by that I did not want to see him. I talked to his social worker and asked her if I could take Cody on a day trip. She gave permission and told me to just fill out a day trip form. At that same time, we lost a staff member to death and his funeral was on the day of our outing. Cody was worried that we wouldn’t be able to go on the day trip anymore and asked me if I wasn’t going to the funeral. I told him: “I made a promise to you and I’m not going to break it”. His social worker and I were just talking that very Friday about Cody who would still be in the Children’s Home for the next few years because there wasn’t any family coming forward. On that Saturday morning, my two sons and I picked Cody up at the Children’s Home and drove to N1 Mall. I met my daughter there, and she decided to spend the day with us. We were on our way to the “games”, when I looked where Cody was, and saw him hugging a lady. I immediately paused and moved closer to ask him who the lady was. The lady pressed him tightly against her, and there were other ladies with her as well. We introduced ourselves to each other and she mentioned that she was a family member on his father’s side – a “niece”. I explained that I was working at the Durbanville Children’s Home and that Cody had arrived at the Children’s Home the previous December. He was so emotional and started crying because he told me that he had last seen the family five years ago. We exchanged phone numbers and that same night she contacted me. I advised her to contact Cody’s social worker if she wanted to know more about him. His aunt connected with his social worker and Cody went to visit the aunt for the Youth Day long weekend and during the school holidays. I believe God planned that we should be at that specific place, on that specific day, at that specific time, so we could run into Cody’s family. Cody is such a sweet kid with the most beautiful manners; he is also very intelligent and does well in school. “My wish is that one day his aunt will take him out of the Children’s Home”.

“It won’t be for long, I promise you. We will work on our situation, and you will be back with us very soon”. As the saying goes famous last words. Your parents’ promises on the day of your admission to Durbanville Children’s Home echo in my mind as I write this, reflecting on your journey. Eight years later – and you are still here. Eight years in which you have overcome huge challenges; eight years in which you have watched your family fall apart and the downward spiral continues. Eight years in which your parent’s substance abuse, unemployment, domestic violence and at times homelessness meant that reunification was never an option. Their situation never improved. You watched your siblings making similar choices and their lives taking a similar path. However, you decided that no matter what, you would persevere and make a success of your life! You did it! You are an overcomer, a brave survivor. As you stand on the brink of writing your matric exams, your commitment to yourself and your future has paid off. Next year you will continue to follow your dream and study to become a teacher. As your social worker, I have watched you develop and grow from a timid, frightened child into a strong, beautiful young woman. Stories like yours make all the hard days worth it. The days when I look at the young lives in front of me, shattered and broken, I make the decision that, no matter what, I choose to keep believing, to keep fighting for them. To keep looking at today with tomorrow’s eyes and see a child who can make it. Go well young lady; thank you for the journey we could share. The rest is up to you, but please keep in touch!

At the beginning of 2023, the Occupational Therapy division of DCH started a project where we put together boxes with educational, therapeutic and playtime resources for our preschool children. The boxes that were put together with a lot of toil and sweat, with the help of donations and wonderful businesses that supported us, finally went out to the houses. Because the initial intention was for the preschoolers to have something to do when all the others had to do homework, I stopped by one of the houses. To my surprise, I come across a completely unexpected picture! The teenagers from one of the girls’ houses are busy playing with the clay, while the primary school girls in the house lie together on the carpet, building puzzles. The preschoolers have a great time playing with the toys and discovering the big ‘lucky packet’. Where fighting and conflict are part of any household, something like toys and fun brings everyone together in moments of peace and enjoyment. No child is ever too old to play or to discover- this is a child’s profession and should be granted to them. To me It was a testimony of what we at DCH are trying to “get right”: that every child here will feel safe to grow, learn, discover, play and just to be themselves within their environment. Such moments shape our children. That is special.  

It’s 12 o’clock and the afternoon school run begins. The drivers rush out of the home with their keys and driving route sheets in hand. As they fasten their seat belts for the drive, they take a deep breath – like the calmness before the storm. With a click of the keys the busses’ engines rumble – they are off. Pulling up at the first school, thoughts flood one’s mind. How was the children’s day at school? Did they behave? Are they all worked up or are they still deep in dreamland and you are the mean person who wakes them up? As the bus doors open and the children file into the bus, multiple emotions can be seen on their faces. Some are filled with glee and others need a comforting hug.   En route the children’s personalities shine through. Some sit quietly chatting with a friend about their day, others belt out the lyrics to their favorite radio songs. Throughout the journey, the bus ride serves as a vibrant social hub, fostering new friendships and strengthening existing bonds. Children exchange stories, share snacks, play games together, and build memories that would last a lifetime. The bus is a microcosm of their world, a place where they can be themselves and embrace the joy and wonder of childhood. Approaching the home, a mixture of excitement and a tinge of sadness fill the air. The children gather their items to disembark, their faces beaming a sense of bewilderment and joy. They eagerly await the next bus ride, knowing that more fun and exploration await them in the future. And so, with a chorus of cheerful goodbyes, the children hop off the bus, their voices fading into the distance. The bus driver waves them off as he pulls away for his next school route run.

Our day starts with kids who are excited to go to their different schools. They really look forward to the ride in the morning. Everyone has his or her reserved spot where they sit in the bus every day. It is always a pleasure to pick them up in the afternoons because then they always have stories to tell about the day’s events. The little ones usually ask a lot of questions. It is nice to get down to their level a little bit and answer their innocent questions as it would make sense to them. One day a girl very excitedly opened her bag and showed me her book: ”Oom look, look I got a seven for Maths today!” I sometimes feel like a father who can be very proud of his children. There is a girl who even made the Western Province team in athletics, and she was very proud of herself for this great milestone. She was so proud of her medals and the attention of the other children was focused on her all the time. The excitement lasted for weeks and had a very positive effect on the younger children. There is one little girl who doesn’t allow anyone to touch her hair, every little hair must be in place; she immediately complains when a friend touches her hair. And for the rest, it is fun to tease her about it – and so each has his or her own unique personality. All I can do is to remind them how special each of them is. I love telling them stories that make them realize how everything in life can affect your future, how to respect yourself and your friends and how to always stay positive. Sometimes they are hyperactive and then one must think of a plan to get them a little calmer again. It is always a good idea to get them singing at times like these. When the radio is turned back on, everyone has a request for the number they want to hear, and it can sometimes be very funny. Every day’s experience is different, but it is good to know that they are always happy, that they adapt to their circumstances and that they participate in the conversations and jokes.

With everything new and strange around me, and with a lot of uncertainty gnawing at me, I walked on the grounds of the Children’s Home on my first day. I started my new job that morning and my manager was taking me on a tour of the grounds. I had a lot to take in. With my attention focused on all the novelties I was trying to process, I felt a slight movement around my legs. Looking down, the most gorgeous two blue eyes stared up at me with a radiant smile. With his arms thrown around my legs in an embrace, the little blonde boy stood and looked up into my face and I heard him ask: “Hello Auntie, how is Auntie’s day?”. Ha-ha-ha, as if the young boy with the oversize suitcase knew exactly how completely overwhelmed this lady was feeling that day. With a smile, he handed me a blade of grass that he had picked on his way back from school and he turned and ran with the rest of his buddies to put their bags in their homes. It was at that moment, seven years ago, that I realised I was in the right place, the big change in my career was indeed the right one. With all that our children have been through in life, it is wonderful to see with how much enthusiasm and joy they can still look at the world and how much love they can give us from their broken hearts.