For many children the separation of their parents can drastically alter and affect their lives, and often they do not know how to cope with the sudden changes. Steven was just 11 years old when his parents separated and his father left their home in Kampala, Uganda. The shock was still fresh when he left home to board at his school, and he began to realise that his life might never be the same.
Not really knowing how to deal with what was happening, Steven acted out; misbehaving in classes, skipping school and spending more time on the streets. The few times he went home, Steven lashed out at his brother and sister, and regularly snuck out of the house without letting anyone know what he was doing or where he was going. If something did not change, Steven was on his way to ending up on the streets.
His teacher, noticing the increasing absences and worsening behaviour, saw some hope in sending Steven to the Kampala network’s ‘Supercamp’ – part of the Child Ambassadors programme which seeks to teach children about life skills, their rights and how to ‘stand up and step out’ for other children in the community. To everyone’s surprise, Steven embraced the activities and the lessons from the camp. Not only did he make friends and participate in games, he was also very keen to learn about peer advocacy, good communication skills and responsible decision-making.
After the camp, everyone noticed a transformation in Steven. Now he helps his mum with the housework and caring for his younger brother and sister. One day he even arrived at school early to organise desks and sweep the classroom floors. The headteacher, taken by surprise, asked, “Who told you to come and do this?” Steven said, “No one; I wanted to come.”
Steven has also gained additional support as he deals with the remaining hurt from his parents’ separation. The network sends a trained mentor to meet with Steven regularly to help him talk about and cope with his situation. The sessions are allowing him to open up, and to think and dream about a bright future full of opportunities. As one staff member remarked, “One week can transform a child. If you invest in these children, it can make a difference.”
HELP CHANGE OTHER CHILDREN’S LIVES THROUGH SUPERCAMPS
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I am so encouraged to read this about Steven. Wonderful. It just took a caring teacher.