Youth discover their inner strengths

All kitted out and ready to go

Thanks to the generous support of Girls and Boys Town’s friends, youth took part in a 12-day course that focused on them discovering their potential.

Canoeing, expedition hiking, rock climbing, abseiling and a solo wilderness experience were just some of the activities that kept them challenged. With nature teaching them lessons that they could bring back to their normal day-to-day lives, a sense of accomplishment is definitely something they all took away with them.

For many people, a 16km hike is no easy feat, especially when it’s hot, but Augusto from Verulam is proud of his achievement.

‘I coped by telling myself that I shouldn’t give up. I learned that I had the will to carry on – five hours with a heavy pack was very difficult, but I finished.’

Testing out their tent...

Willem, from Magaliesburg, wrote an essay about the camp that was so frank (and amusing, in parts) we felt compelled to share some of it with you here:

‘The most important thing that I learned was during the solo. We had to build our own shelters and mine wasn’t one of the best. It was just my luck that it would rain. I got soaked but the life lesson I learned is that no matter how long or how hard it rains, the sun will eventually shine again.’

Our boys’ bright futures

David is gratefull to Girls and Boys Town donors for what their support has helped him achieved

If there’s one thing we at Girls and Boys Town love, it’s seeing our youth grow into mature young adults with bright futures ahead of them.

David and Jepp are great examples. David passed Matric last year, and when reflecting back on the four years he spent with us, admits that the decision to place him at the Verulam Family Home was a good one. ‘If I didn’t come, I wouldn’t have my Matric and the employment opportunities which I now have.’

We wish David all the best and hope that his dream of working all over the world – as a professional chef – comes true

Jepp is determined to join the Navy - and he's working towards his goal

Jepp’s dream is to join the navy when he leaves school – so he took his principal’s advice and joined the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) while still with Girls and Boys Town, to strengthen his chances of getting into the navy. Jepp has attended all training and has achieved in four months what might normally take 12 months!

Everyone at the NSRI has accepted and welcomed Jepp as a Girls and Boys Town boy. ‘They accept you on the basis of how you fit in, not on where you come from. It feels good to be accepted – it lifts me up.’

Our young achievers

One of our Alpha Family Home girls, Adelaide, surprised us all recently. She came to us from a homeless shelter where her mother had abandoned her and there was confusion about her age.

Sport is one of the many interests that Girls and Boys Town cultivates in its youth.

With no birth certificate to prove otherwise, we were told she was 17. So we placed her in a bridging class to help her finish Grade 12. She wrote Matric after six months and passed three of her six subjects. When we applied to the Department of Home Affairs for her birth certificate, we were shocked to discover that she was only 15! She’s bright – as well as mature and highly motivated – and is currently re-doing Grade 12 and plans to go to university in 2010. Good for you, Adelaide!

At our Dingle Family Home, Bradley made us all proud
(and a lot of boys envious) of his soccer skills. He was lucky enough to be chosen to go on tour to Johannesburg with the ‘All Stars’ soccer team at the end of 2008. With a great attitude and talent to boot, Bradley is sure to go far!

A good start to the year

Educators in the role of learners - during one of our workshops.

Girls and Boys Town has a positive relationship with the Department of Education, allowing us to take our training and education to new levels.

In February, 350 educators took part in our Well-Managed Classroom workshop. And twenty more schools in Gauteng will benefit from Classroom Management training this year.

Through the Department of Education, we also trained the Protem unit – at the Cullinan Place of Safety – in Specialised Classroom Management. The staff were so thankful for the programme – and their encouraging feedback is excellent proof that our programmes make a difference!

Learner Skills training was also held at a school in Tembisa. The learners learnt skills like listening, following instructions, resisting peer pressure, communication and how to make better choices. Now the learners who are battling with their social circumstances will be able to take these new skills and apply them to achieve their goals in life!

‘Old boy’ makes the ultimate gift

We were deeply moved to hear that the late Mario Montanari – who was at Girls and Boys Town as a youngster and went on to chair the Alumni Association for six years – remembered Girls and Boys Town in his Will.

Mario made the ultimate gift through his bequest, in the knowledge that the life lessons he learned at Girls and Boys Town would be passed on to current and future generations of girls and boys in need.

We value the kindness and vision of people, like Mario, who remember Girls and Boys Town in this way.

For more information about including Girls and Boys Town in your Will, please call Delores Sacks on 011 482 2655.