The childhood crisis
I just spent the day facilitating a Get Real Youth Program, I was one of 20 counselors and coaches who took a group of 16yr olds (the entire class year) through an unbelievably exposing process. We showed them that no matter what is happening in their lives they have the choice to either operate from love or from fear. There were 220 girls. Not one of them did not report a household filled with abuse, addiction, neglect or death.
Words can’t express the experience. To witness the courage of these girls to openly speak about their situations, some of which brought tears to the entire hall. To show them that they are not alone in their suffering when before they believed they were. To hear them stand up and thank us for bringing them hope and a way to face the things that they have no power to change. I am completely grateful for the honor.
The school was a government one, which means these kids have parents or some adult who can somewhat afford to send them to school and feed them. Despite this middle class appearing situation, these atrocities are still going on, and believe me some of the home lives are atrocious. Imagine then the situations found in shanty towns and poorer areas?
How dare we create a world where children have to face these circumstances? How dare we turn a blind eye when children are being beaten, and raped and kicked out until the mother has finished selling her body and sobered up enough to remember her child? It is unacceptable.
If we do nothing we condone it. If we don’t stand up, reach out – help, we condone it. This abuse is happening behind the doors of over 85% of South African homes.
My god. How can we ignore this epidemic? Our very existence rests on the shoulders of how we raise our young. When did we collectively stop taking responsibility for all children? When did we loose the capacity to love outside of ourselves? How can we not recognise the root cause of our global problems?
If you are reading this then I ask you please; do just one thing to help. There are so many ways and I know that you already know of one. This pandemic must be stopped.
Contact me if you would like to sponsor a program in another school and help children to cope queries@iamchangingtheworld.org.za
