Empowering Girls and Women as Mothers

Thank you to YOU for your support and encouragement throughout this difficult time. I want to welcome all our new supporters and to thank also whole heartedly all those who support us on a monthly basis plus those who have given in the past. Your support has been amazing and I am excited about the future.

Last report I spoke about wanting to send you a testimony of Charmaine. She is one of my hero's, she has overcome so much and is actually one of my hero's in this program. She has overcome so much abuse, for example; bullying by adults and children; stigma - for having a mentally ill mother (in this country mental illness is thought to be demonic in origin); structural abuse, physical, sexual abuse and hopelessness.

Charmaine no longer sees this as her story. I hope you will be encouraged as you read her story.

 I joined KTD196 in 2013 with no idea what they are doing but I was interested in how you could find lot of children playing that pushed me to join the team. Then, after attending a camp I started to realise that it is not all about playing and having fun, but the program changed my priorities and expanded my knowledge.

Before joining KTD196 movement, I was unable to socialise with other people and was somehow shy to talk. I couldn’t stand up for myself, I wasn't really interested in education but I was forced to do go to school by my mum. I didn't have a dream about my future in fact I had no light about my future at all. I just thought I could be like my friends, drop out of school and have a boyfriend who would look after me. So many of my friends got pregnant that I thought that would be my life to.

My mother was working so hard to ensure that I was like other children. She worked as a maid on the condition that the madam would let me be with my mum. That’s how she took care of my needs. My maternal grandmother works on the farms even to this day. She also supported us. My father died when I was a baby, my mum developed mental problems and because of that we had to leave where she was working.

Life was tough. There was only my granny working to support me, my mum and 3other sisters.

With KTD196, when I was still in high school, I had nothing with me, my family couldn't afford to buy my school uniform and stationaries. My clothes were always dirty, we didn’t have soap to clean the clothes just water. Food was whatever we could find, like morogo (wild spinach) mopani worms, locust and pap. Plus my grandmother worked on an avocado farm so we could have avocados. We grew our own spinach, pumpkin and beetroot at home.

But after meeting with Akela (Elizabeth the Program Manager) everything started going well, she is playing a huge parenting role in my life. My mum still requires treatment for her mental health problems but she is much better, it has taken 10yrs. Akela taught me not to fear any confrontation or any kinds of problems I have with myself or others. When stars collide and out of their collisions new worlds are born.

After joining the Keep The Dream196’s program my life changed, I am now able to stand on my own and speak out the wrongs and the rights that I see. No words can really completely capture the joyous feelings in my heart when I think of how Keep The Dream196 and scouts has benefited my life. I have tried several times but each time I am so overwhelmed with the things I want to convey that I just get so choked up.

KTD196 is indescribable, so pure, so patient, so humble and so so so very wise and it is really incredible the way Louise, Akela Zabe and Nkulu are constantly supporting and helping all the children to be confident and to believe in ourselves.

I am so humbled by KTD196’s wisdom and patience and so inspired by so much effort being put in our lives. They are all working with the unwavering goal of planting seeds, making accessible: teaching, sharing, inspiring, reaching out, giving a shoulder, and showing the way to always benefit others. They have supported over 15,000 children since they started in 2003. WOW. I am so humbled to be one of them.

Don’t laugh but now I am furthering my studies through their help… and most of all thank you to KTD196 for opening my eyes and my mind to the true meaning and purpose of my life…..now I feel complete. Thanks to God and keep The dream 196 for giving me the opportunity to study through their assistance.  I am studying a Bachelor of Education, I want to be a teacher and help other students. I am in my 3rd year at the UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPO.

I stood out as the trying student because I really want it and I want to improve more and more each day.

Keep The Dream196 contributed to the realization of my dreams.

I have been in the program for more than 7 years.  I am now an adult leader in the program. I have learned that we can overcome issues if we really want to. That poverty can be overcome; to value ourselves as people; to have a life project and to set goals for ourselves that is being rich.

This program helped me clarify my goals and strive to achieve them, no matter the difficulties that get in the way.

Having studied teaching and practicing it, means changing my life story…….a story full of love, but also with many challenges.

Now my life is different.

Although I haven't yet completed my degree I have hope that I will complete it and help my mother. My future goal is to continue with becoming professional in my career, never forgetting to give love to people. To help my family, my mother, and everyone not forgetting those I have always received unconditional love and who give me the strength to move forward. My dream is to become a teacher of young children. I want to serve people and work with boys and girls.

Thank you, keep the dream 196 and sponsors. GOD BLESS YOU

Charmaine

Links:

• Hear from Charmaine about the impact of your donation!
• Read more stories from our children under VOICE OF THE CHILD
• Facebook is a great way to stay in touch, dont forget to like us