ISIBINDI CYCWs are required to use great initiative and creativity in applying their knowledge, formal training and skills to support the unique and often sensitive needs of children from a range of complicated family backgrounds. They are required to work in the moment, in the life space, and often in environments of suspicion, fear and constant transition, managing the interests of the children, while also striving to strengthen the family network. The CYCW worker assigned to the BEJA family had to manage her engagement with them very carefully. Thabisa, the thirty five year old mother, and Ntalantala Joni, the forty six year old father, together with their seven children, (Anathi, fifteen years old and in grade 5, Mzwamadoda, twelve and in grade 4, Anele, ten and in grade 3, the twins, Samkelo and Sanele, seven and in grade 1, Sanelisa, six and in Grade R, and Nadia, the four year old baby girl, were a large and troubled family, with some history of turmoil. It the initial stages of the CYCW’s interventions with this family, the mother was living in the rural area of Lytervill with her seven children, in the one-roomed shack of her sister’s: she had run there because, as she explained, the father had chased them away from the city of East London, where they had been living. The shack was of poor quality, and was very cold and damp when it rained. The mother drank a lot, and this impacted her ability to take care of her children: they were often not washed, properly clothed, or fed before bedtime. The two youngest children did not have birth certificates, so they did not receive any grants. The father, meanwhile, remained in East London, working at odd jobs, and taking treatment for tuberculosis. The CYCW started to work on building a positive relationship with the family, while at the same time helping them with some practical things to introduce some stability into their lives. She immediately requested food parcels from ISIBINDI to help the family cope with the hunger and poverty. She began to teach the mother about Children’s Rights. She advocated for the registration of the children in school, even thought they did not have transfer letters or report cards, given their unplanned move. She began to make morning home visits to ensure that the children were bathed and fed before going to school. She taught them a range of practical skills, and began supervising them as they went about such primary tasks as cooking, making beds, washing clothes and fetching water. She also taught the mother and children about health care. She linked the children with developmental programs at the ISIBINDI Safe Park, and helped the baby Nadia with childhood development skills (such as how to count, learn colours and shapes, etc.) This was still a troubled family, and the children wanted to live with their father, so she organized a family conference, which led to the father rejoining the family; she also followed up by providing family reunification services, encouraging the family members to gather together and openly express feelings in order to promote understanding and respect for one another’s perspectives and rights. This proved to be a very fruitful and empowering exercise for each family member, and now they continue to use the skills regardless of whether or not the worker is involved. From the beginning, the CYCW had started to teach the mother how to budget and use money appropriately. They were able to move out of the aunt’s home into a vacant house owned by the father’s family, and this has already boosted the self-esteem of the entire family, because now the mother, father and children reside in their own space. The family was also soon able to buy a site – they are now starting to dream big together: they are awaiting the day when some family member will be employed and able to earn a living salary so that they can build their own home. The CYCW realized that the family had one strong asset – a father who was actually very protective, loving and caring of his children; as such, he was a rarity within the context of the families with whom they generally worked. Consequently, the entire family is gradually beginning to grow strong together. The parents are married, live together now, and have a support system of extended family members such as the aunt around them; they have become a part of the community, and now have some friends and visitors and community supports. The mother now goes to church, demonstrating a respect for God, the father tries hard to find temporary jobs to ensure his family is fed, and the children take care of each other and play well together. The family of course still faces challenges. They do not yet own their own home and both parents are without permanent work, and thus are dependent on their children’s grant money. In fact, with respect to the grants, they did have to some problems – the mother, still an alcoholic, misused the money from time to time; eventually, the father decided to go to the Social Development Department to cancel the child support grants as authorized to the mother, and then reapply for them by himself – he became the recipient of the grant money for all six children and now he ensures that there is enough food all month, that the children’s school needs are met, that they have clean clothes and proper school uniforms. He has assumed an appropriate role of leadership within the family, and the rebalanced energy is proving helpful to them all. Together, the parents now understand (and are respectful of) the rights of their children, since it is their grant money that is enabling them all to survive. The CYCW worker is trying hard to find rehabilitation resources and services to help the mother address her alcohol abuse problemsThe ISIBINDI team of workers support each other in the interventions with their individual caseloads, such that they bring a broad range of creative ideas forward to problem solve for each unique scenario. Thus they are generally aware of the needs of various families. In this case, the CYCWs of the community demonstrate that they too care about the new family in their midst, and help them with their growth and development on personal and familial levels. The resourceful CYCW who has played such and effective and supportive role in the life of this entire family continues to encourage them to stand united in the face of all challenges, and it is apparent that this family has already integrated many skills and attitudes that will serve them well in their individual and collective lives.
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