SOUTH AFRICA
Josline may now be in her thirties but she is still very young at heart and remembers fondly her childhood years at SOS Children's Village Ennerdale. "I came to SOS Children's Villages when I was ten years old, in 1985. Even though my early years before coming to the village were traumatic, I now feel that because of SOS Children's Villages I am a very established and grounded person with a planned future," said Josline.
She relates all her experiences at the SOS Children's Villages Ennerdale as positive because she had wonderful encouragement from the whole village, especially her SOS mother, village director, siblings and youth leaders. "My role model and confidante was certainly my SOS mother, Martha," remarked Josline. "I still see her today as well as my youth care worker. They will always remain part of my family."
"In the village my father figure was Eugene Absolom. He was the village administrator at the time. Later he moved to Cape Town and became the village director of the SOS Children's Village there. I visited Eugene and his family in Cape Town whenever I had the chance." (Eugene is now national director for SOS Children's Villages South Africa based in Johannesburg).
A special highlight of Josline's time at the village was the celebration of her 21st birthday. "All the children and moms pitched in to help with the decorating and catering. We had the party in the SOS Ennerdale hall. The whole village attended and Eugene gave me my 21st key." (The 21st key is a symbolic key, usually made of brass that 'says' – "You are now of age, this is the key to the adult world – Good luck and may you have many successes.")
"There is nothing I would change about my life at the SOS Children's Villages. My SOS mother loved me, my siblings loved me and the village support was always there. I had a very happy childhood at the SOS Children's Village. I met so many important people during my time there: leaders, beauty queens, singing stars . . . so many, I cannot name them all. It was a real blessing."
After finishing school Josline started studying towards being a teacher. "As a young child I always wanted to be a school teacher, but for pre-schoolers or grade Os." When an opportunity arose for Josline to go to Holland for a year to act as au pair she put her studies aside. Josline took care of three children and put enough time aside to travel. Her employers sent her on a course to learn to speak Dutch, and took her on holiday with them. They still keep in contact and have a good relationship.
Today Josline works for a large company in Johannesburg where she does IT. "I believed I could do it and applied. My application was accepted and now I am also studying further through UNISA (University of South Africa)." Josline has not given up on her dream to become a teacher, however. "I really miss having little children around me. But, it is very difficult nowadays to find vacancies in this profession. I will, however, always hope and not give up on this special dream of mine."
Josline is "not married yet" because she wants to prioritise what she must complete first in her life before settling down and having children. "Maybe I'll get married next year," she grins, "That's when my SOS mom also retires and moves to the retired section of the village."
Finally, Josline has a few words of wisdom for the children at SOS Children's Village: "Work hard, believe in yourself, and be proud of who you are. There are more opportunities now than when I was a youngster and today's children must use these! They need to show appreciation for all the blessings bestowed on them by SOS Children, and the hundreds of donors."
20 May 2009
http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/charity-news/ennerdale-child-update.htm
