First success story

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The Dube Family came to the attention of the ISIBINDI CYCW because this family of fice was living in very unhealthy, unsanitary conditions.  They lived in a one room mud house, which was in a very poor state – it had holes, and the floor was wet.  Needless to say, this was very unhealthy for the three young children aged seven, six and three, who were actually sleeping on the floor.  But the mother was terminally ill, and had no strength to do anything about their situation – in fact, she was in total denial about her illness.  THE CYCW had to explore and develop many strategies to help this desperate family.  She visited the mother in her home, and began planting seeds for improving their lives right in that desperate space.  She provided Mrs Dube with health information, to help her understand her urgent need for testing for disease, and eventually, thanks to her regular and intense therapeutic care, she persuaded her to go to the health clinic for testing.  The CYCW accompanied the mother and her children to the clinic, where the mother and the seven and three year old children tested HIV Positive.  Immediately they were started on a program of treatment. The family was very poor, and had no source of income. Immediate intervention was needed, and initially they were given food parcels to help them with some balanced eating.  Then the CYCW commenced the process securing some financial support for the family.  The mother herself had no ID document, and so it was difficult to obtain birth certificates for the children and commence the process of applying for social services grants. The CYCW persisted, engaging other social services and health care providers in the process.  For example, in a separate intervention, the CYCW discovered that the children did not attend school, and thus had had no general health assessments. She also learned that the child Precious had a hearing and speech impediment; she arranged for her to go to the doctor for a proper assessment – thereafter, she had to see a speech therapist and an audiologist, and she eventually received hearing aids. All this work resulted in the application for several grants – now Mrs, Dube and Precious were found eligible for two disability grant and the other two children receive the child support grant. The CYCW also provided the family with other support and guidance to improve their overall quality of life.  She advocated for the two older children to attend church, and broaden their community of support.  The family were taught budgeting skills, and they even planned for funeral coverage for the family, bravely acknowledging that premature death was a likely reality they would have to face together in time. But they now, they are building their lives around hope.  Expanding their horizons through learning, both Precious and her mother now both attend sign language classes at the hospital. Precious, she will soon be accompanied by her CYCW to undergo assessment for registration in a stimulation school in Pretoria.  A new shack was built for the family, with new furniture – and the ongoing life space counselling and support provided to this family by the ISIBINDI CYCW now takes place in a home of hope.

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