Lina’s story
At age 19 Lina (pseudonym) faced terrible odds for completing matric successfully. Her social worker was concerned that her circumstances would prevent her from fulfilling her potential.
Lina, who has been in the Westbury Family Care programme since September 2013, lives in the Slovo Park informal settlement in a one bedroom shack, together with four other family members. They are, her dad (45), who relies on piece jobs, her 21-year-old sister and her niece and nephew, who are one and six years of age respectively. Lina lost her mother at age three.
The shack has no running water and electricity and the family does not have a steady source of income. Still she is one of best students in the AKB Westbury Family Care programme.
In a discussion between the relevant managers, it was decided that there is sufficient motivation for this talented girl to move to Langlaagte, where she could get the support for her to have the greatest chance of academic success.
This move was soon organised and is a blessing to Lina. She is very happy, less stressed and has settled well. She has a room of her own with a table and chair to study comfortably and a warm bed to get a good night’s sleep.
She was delighted on the first morning after her move to wake up to a warm breakfast, prepared by her house mother. She loves being around the other girls who are so diverse and accommodating. To be presented with three meals a day was a major departure from her situation at Slovo Park where she and her sister took turns to cook.
Possibly the greatest blessing for her at Langlaagte is running water and electricity, because at home she used a candle or the torch on her phone to study. Her concentration improved greatly.
The future definitely looks brighter for Lina and we look forward to see the impact that this opportunity would have on her future.
Lina se storie
Lina (nie haar regte naam nie) se kanse om op 19-jarige ouderdom suksesvol deur matriek te kom het vroeër bra sleg gelyk. Haar maatskaplike werker was besorg dat haar lewensomstandighede sou verhoed dat sy haar volle potensiaal sou bereik.
Lina se gesin woon in ‘n eenslaapkamer gehuggie in die Slovopark informele woongebied, en sy is sedert September 2013 deel van die Westbury gesinsprogram. Daar is vier ander gesinslede wat insluit, haar 45-jarige pa, wat op stukwerk staatmaak, haar 21-jarige suster en haar nefie en niggie wat onderskeidelik ses en een jaar oud is. Lina het haar ma op driejarige ouderdom verloor.
Hulle huisie het nie water of elektrisiteit nie en die gesin geen standvastige bron van inkomste nie. Tog is sy een van die beste studente in die AKB Westbury gesinsprogram.
Tydens ‘n gesprek onder die relevante bestuurders, is daar besluit dat daar genoeg rede is om die talentvolle meisie na Langlaagte kampus te verskuif. Hier sou sy die nodige ondersteuning kon kry om vir haar die beste kans op akademiese sukses te gee.
Die skuif is kortliks gereël en is ‘n regte seën vir Lina. Sy is gelukkig, minder gespanne en het goed aangepas. Sy geniet dit om haar eie kamer te hê, met ‘n tafel en stoel waar sy kan studeer. Die gemaklike, warm bed sorg vir ‘n goeie nagrus.
Lina was in haar skik toe sy die eerste oggend wakker word om ‘n warm ontbyt, voorberei deur haar huisma, te geniet. Sy geniet die diverse groep meisies met wie sy die huis deel en is dankbaar om drie etes per dag te kry. In Slovopark moes sy en haar sussie beurte maak om te kook.
Die grootste geskenk vir Lina is waarskynlik die vreugde van water en elektrisiteit. Tuis moes sy by kerslig of die flits van haar selfoon studeer. Haar konsentrasie het baie verbeter.
Die toekoms lyk aansienlik beter vir die meisie en ons sien daarna uit om te sien hoe die geleentheid haar toekoms sal affekteer.