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What was lost was found
We don’t always know the background to why children come into our Joseph Baynes Child and Youth care Centre.
This was the case with Carol* who came into our family at Grade 6, having been transferred from another children’s home where she was placed in care at 8 months old.
To the best of our knowledge, and Carol’s knowledge, she had no biological family whatsoever – only the family that, with your support, we were able to provide for her.
Then her life took a miraculous turn.
A student social worker who was doing her internship at Joseph Baynes came to the office one Monday morning in great excitement.
Very involved with her church, she was on the welcome committee and the day before had welcomed a new family into the church. She was struck by a family likeness to Carol.
When she took down their details, they had the same surname as Carol.
Going through the channels, Carol’s case worker contacted the family, and two biological aunts were discovered. Both living in Pietermaritzburg, they had no idea that they had a niece a mere 5kms away.
At the reunion, many tears of joy were shed. And a holiday in the eastern Cape was arranged at the home of Carol’s Gogo where she got to spend time getting to know her family.
Throughout her primary and high school years, Carol shone academically with her sights set on a successful future. And after the holiday she returned to focus on her Grade 12 studies.
She looked beautiful at her matric dance wearing a dress that the community helped to provide. And she graduated from Grade 12 with three distinctions and a university pass. Carol was also accepted at Stellenbosch University where she’s now fulfilling her dream to become a lawyer.
The family which was once lost, has been found. A happy ending that was helped along the way by friends like you, whose donations provide a home for children like Carol, and the sharp eye of a young social worker intern.
Thank you.
*Name has been changed.
