Dumela! here's my monthly report for january. I changed the names so it might be a little bit difficult for some of you to understand, but I just wanted to keep the privacy for the girls.
And some things might be hardly understandable if you don't know whats going on at PCM and if you don't know the peoples names. nevertheless: enjoy!
Monthly Report, January 2009
- Casework
- Activities
January was an interesting month because we really got into touch with the girls. First a girl was in the hospital and we fetched her. She is much better now but unfortunately she didn’t go back to her family (which she wanted to do). Then another one had serious problems with her stomach and we had to take her to hospital, where she stayed for about a week. She was very concerned that she’s missing too much in school, but not so much worried about her body. The girls at Lerato house were also concerned and went to visit her which was really nice and important because she needed this attention and support urgently.
Because one girl had serious problems in Accounting we went to the financial manfrom PCM and asked him to help us.
- Progress
This girl tried to understand the things she struggled with. She really wanted to know how to do it right. But at the same time she gives up easily.
- Challenges
The disabled girl needs urgently another place to stay. In Lerato house there is no one who takes care all the time for her. And also with the girls it is not a good state, they both bully each other.
The girl from hospital told us her story, about her problems and feelings. She was really hopeless and depressed. It wasn’t easy for us to cope with this.
With the girl struggeling in Accounting it was a little bit successful but I think she really needs someone who has enough time to explain it to her from the very beginning.
1.4 Plan to overcome the challenges
We will make sure that this one girl (from hospital)can consult a psychologist. It is urgent and she really needs professional help from someone. She has problems with the social worker, and me or Henry can just listen to her stories and problems but not really help her.
With the other girl I need to go to Ludwig maybe he can explain everything to her with enough time or we can get a student for her who can teach her some things in accounting.
- Group work
- Activities
In the beginning of January we went a lot of times to the swimming pool. Also the kids from the neighborhood joined us and we had a lot of fun.
We all went with the girls to Loop Street to see how their new home looks like. The girls and Thabita (the housemotheroh LH) were all astonished and surprised. The ones who will go there are really excited and happy that they will have a new, nice and safe home.
We borrowed a movie to watch it together with the girls and organized even a projector so that everybody can watch at the same time.
We also did a lot of homework this month. The girls are very smart but tome things they have to learn are not easy to understand for them.
- Progress
By the time they learn more and more. It’s getting better and I feel that being good in school is very important for them (for the two who didn't attend school last year).
- Challenges
Because many of the girls are leaving soon to Loop Street, we experienced that the girls don’t participate at the house meetings anymore.
Because we had some problems with the Laptop and the sound the girls weren’t interested anymore and all the afford was for nothing.
The girls come late to us when they want us to help them with their homework. It is always very stressful.
- Plan to overcome the challenges
Because they are leaving soon it is not really a problem. I hope we can still stay in contact with them for example doing the soccer training together.
We told them now we won’t help them with their homework anymore when they come after 16.00h.
- Administration
- Activities
Henry went with Thabita to do all the school registration.
Henry went with Sheryl and Mashadi for an Outreach to Brits. They wanted to check on the family of one of the girls from prison. It was really interesting for her because they went to the rural areas and she got a lot of new impressions.
Henry and I joined the first time the night outreach team. It was very interesting and opened our eyes concerning real problems outside of our daily life, things we just don’t see as a ‘normal’ citizen of this town.
One day Henry had to buy the groceries for Loop-Street without a person, who is used to buy such a lot of things. So I was alone responsible for this, only Iris came with her.
Iris, Henry and I bought presents for the girls who are moving to Loop Street.
Henry went to Aqua Gym in Salvokop. Win taught her and other PCM staff who do aerobic in the water, so that we can teach it in our projects.
- Challenges
Because they did it at the very last days before school started it was very hectic and also Thabita and Mosidi informed her about this an hour before they were supposed to go. So she had to change all her other plans.
In Brits they were a little bit lost because they didn’t have a map and the village was without any structure, so they had to ask a lot of people. But in the end they found the place.
At the Outreach we felt uncomfortable because we are white. We were really conspicuous and some of the young women didn’t know how to react and were shy. We will talk to Jane about that if we keep on joining this Outreach.
- Plan to overcome the challenges
Start doing the registration and all the stuff for school earlier and inform Henry at least one day before it is going to happen.
We will talk to Jane about our feelings if we keep on joining this Outreach.
Personal Development
We grew a lot with the girls. Because we have gone with them through different problems they really accept us and the most important thing is they really trust us.
Consultation
