Cynthia’s story
... a friendly ear
Cynthia was one of the trainers on the Little Seeds programme for teenage heads-of-households in South Africa. Orphaned teenagers who are looking after younger siblings met together for week-long workshops.
Cynthia always starts by encouraging the teenagers to list the problems that they have as orphans in their communities. She is able to encourage them as she too is an orphan and understands what they are going through.
The lists are long and similar experiences are repeated again and again …
“We have no money.”
“I can't pay my school fees so the teacher refuses to sign my end-of-year report card. That means I can't move up into the next class. I've been in the same class for two years. The teacher said he'd sign my report card if I gave him some money – but I have no money.”
“I got a job on a farm and I worked for a day. At the end of the day, I asked for my money, but they just said I was an orphan and didn't deserve any money.”
“I know an old man in my village is sleeping with my sister, but what can I do?”
“There's a man in my village who keeps asking if I'll give him my seven-year-old sister to sleep with. He says he'll give me money. I need money.”
Cynthia listens and then tells her own story. She never knew her father. Her mother died when she was three years old. She was then brought up by her aunt who already had her own children and didn't really want Cynthia. When this aunt would no longer look after her, she moved to another family where she was again unwanted. She was made to work hard in the home – much harder than the other children. She was the only one to go to school without shoes and a uniform and was ridiculed. She was blamed for every problem and given little food.
These are the same problems that the teenagers she's talking to are facing and they are also raising younger brothers and sisters. They need help and guidance – and they're prepared to accept that from Cynthia. They open up to her and listen to her advice and guidance. They've found a friend.
