Case studies: former child from Ennerdale, South Africa

SOS Children's Villages considers a former SOS child to be a success if he or she is able to live independently and integrate into society after leaving the organisation's care. Amy*, now 26 years old, tells us how she became an "SOS success".

"I Feel Like I Am Giving Back to the Organisation"

Amy was a small, scared, tearful little girl when she came to SOS Children's Village Ennerdale in 1988. She was removed from the only home of two years that she knew - a Place of Safety (children's home) in Durban - to come to the village. Amy, who was six years old at the time, does not remember her parents, nor how she came to the Place of Safety.

"When I came to the village I was crying and crying. Everything was so new to me, but Myra (an SOS mother) helped me during that week's orientation to accept my environment. She was encouraging and said that everything would work out for the best," Amy remembers.

After the weeks "bridging" period Amy moved into "House 3" where there were only orphaned children and became acquainted with her SOS mother, Doreen. The transition was also eased by having her "brother" with her. "David moved with me from the place of safety in Durban. He was the closest thing I had to a family at that time." Soon, however, Amy had five other sisters and three other brothers who she bonded with well.

Amy remembers that her first years at the village were challenging. "The majority of the children when I was there were coloured and because my features looked more Indian I was bullied. Some children were mean and used to pull my straight hair, hit me, and be verbally abusive," she said, "But, I had my back-up! I could always rely on my brothers and sisters in our home that used to defend me."

Growing up at Ennerdale, South Africa

While Amy recalls living at the village as being tough sometimes and having its ups and downs she says it made her a stronger person and was just part of growing up. "There were also many opportunities at the village such as when I did karate and ballroom. These were fun and good."

Amy also got on well with her SOS mother Doreen. "She was what I would imagine a biological mother would be like. She put her foot down for my own good, was very understanding, and you could speak to her and she would give you advice," smiled Amy fondly. The village director also played a role in Amy's life. "When I had issues that my mom couldn't help me with I would go to the village director. He helped me with things like the bullying and would deal with the bigger boys."

Amy says that going to school was also difficult because the people in the community believed if you were living in the village you were poor, had no where to go, or your parents threw you away. "You were often called names and teased which I couldn't understand because some of my friends in the community didn't even have hot water in the house or food to eat but at the village we had all that!"

The first step towards independence for Amy came when she turned 17 years old and moved into the SOS Youth Facility. "You had to be very independent. It was a challenge because you couldn't rely on your mother or family anymore," she said. Amy now had to do her own washing, cooking, cleaning and juggle a budget. She shared a house with seven other girls: two to a room, with two bathrooms, a lounge and a kitchen.

The monthly income for the youth girls was R410 (54 euros) each minus R50 (6 euros) for water and lights which left R360 (48 euros) for buying food, toiletries, and clothing. "We used to club our income together so that it went further. It was tough to budget with such a small amount of money."

After Amy finished school she studied further at the Academy of Learning where she did a secretarial course and computer studies. With her time at the village up and independence lurking, Amy decided to go overseas and study in Germany in 2003. Thanks to the generosity of her child sponsors she went to a college in Germany and studied German language and computers. She stayed on the international campus for almost a year before returning to sunny South Africa. "Germany was a cold place but I learnt a lot."

Independence achieved at Ennerdale

Amy returned to her native country homeless but proving that the "SOS bonds" are strong she moved in with her SOS mother Doreen, who had been retired for five years already. "We stayed in Germiston, just the two of us. It was quiet. We couldn't gossip about other people in the village but just spoke about how our days were." Amy's first two months were spent without work. She stayed home and cooked and cleaned for her mom.

She recalls an incident in her first week back in South Africa that was "a big reality check" for her. "In Germany you can walk around until four in the morning with your wallet and cell phone. I forgot how careful you had to be in South Africa. It was while my mom Doreen and I were waiting to take a taxi to town that two men tried to rob us. I instinctively fought them with the karate skills I had learnt at the village and they were unsuccessful and ran away empty handed. I only broke a toe," she shrugged lightly.

One afternoon Amy was paging through the newspaper when she saw an advertisement for a Direct Mail Assistant for SOS Children's Villages South Africa. Feeling slightly nervous but excited she applied for the job, was called in for an interview and offered the position on a temporary basis in 2004. Proving her worth Amy became a permanent employee at the national office of the organisation she had spent her life in in January 2006.

Her job involves a lot of administration. She receives, sorts and replies to emails, faxes, and letters. She is in charge of loading labels onto the system, taking and sending out label orders to donors. Amy also handles cash, cheques, credit card deposits and money houses, and does daily banking. She puts her German language skills to work as she helps with translations of international sponsor letters and phone calls. "Working at the national office makes me feel like I am giving back to the organisation. It is good to see how everything works 'behind the scenes'."

After acquiring this position Amy moved into a one and a half bedroom flat with a view of the whole of Germiston. Her future goals are to drive her own car, have her own home, get married, but still be independent, and have two children.

Looking back on her life in an SOS Children's Village and asked how she feels when she is introduced as or called a former SOS child Amy says, "I feel proud because I am successful. I am the proof of the pudding. To have a child at the village is like an investment - it can either go sour or it goes smoothly. It is your choice to make something out of the opportunities you are given." And Amy has, she is an "SOS success".

*For privacy reasons, we have changed the woman's name.

SOS Children has been working in South Africa since and the children's village at Ennerdale gives a family for life to more than 150 children. In addition, over 500 children and their families are supported through the SOS Family Strengthening Programme Ennerdale via health counselling, counselling & psychological support, family strengthening, and support for those affected by HIV/AIDS

You can support children like Amy by sponsoring a child in South Africa.