Here at BDS, we witness many life changes. We see children come from all backgrounds and from all kinds of brokenness. We take them in and care for them. We watch them grow and transform into the best versions of themselves. One of these amazing stories comes from a child that we will call Lerato.
Her story
When we welcomed her into our home, Lerato was a timid 14-year-old. She was placed here for her protection and safety from her father, who was sexually molesting her. When she arrived, she was only in her final year of primary school and struggled academically. She was unable to read or write at that time, but we began seeing a vast improvement after only a few weeks of attending our BDS homeschool.
It has been three years since then, and Lerato will turn 17 in July. She has grown so far from the shy 14-year-old girl who came to ‘us all those years ago.
Her transformation
After primary school, Lerato made it into high school. When we found out, we all celebrated this achievement with her. She was enrolled in a boarding school and performed well in the first year, passing on to the next grade. However, she did not do as well in her second year and did not move past grade 9. The decision was made for her to return to the BDS Children’s Homes for closer monitoring. Since her return, she has continued to improve steadily in her academics.
Her transformation extends beyond her academics and into everyday life. Upon returning from boarding school, she became the one her house mom trusted to oversee the smooth operation of the house. She has become incredibly multi-talented and even instructs other children. She teaches others how to do crafts, creating decorative ornaments from recycled bottles and paper. She has grown to love music and dance and even participates in some school sports, including recently joining a rugby team.
Her future
There haven’t been any updates regarding her case against her father, but she is not worried because her safety at BDS is assured. Aside from her father, relatives have supported her growth and asked her to visit during school holidays. They even check up on her during the weekend.
We delight in the program’s impact on Lerato’s life and are forever grateful to be a part of it. Her story is an example of the power of our program and the life change it can bring. She exemplifies the effect of a supportive community and hard work.
We love being a part of children’s stories as they move past their trauma and onto success. However, we require your support to do this! Will you help us breathe life back into children who have experienced trauma?