Homelife

Just after Christmas 2011 two young women, Princess and Nomsa, came to live with us, together with their 2 year old daughters, Luba and Tanna.  We knew them from The Precious Life Foundation and previously they lived at the PLF farm.  

An image from the HOPE series of Tanna (left) & Luba (right) outside my workshop

They are with us to learn new skills and gain experience in a variety of areas including practical and domestic skills such as cooking, budgeting, time management and social skills, for example, English language learning.  Princess is also studying at night-school four nights a week to get some O-Level qualifications.  We're trying to help each think through some goals and objectives for the future and identify how to reach those.  We try and support that process and it needs each party committed and contributing to the process.  Over the last 10 weeks it's been good to get to know them and we've got into a routine of sharing lives and muddling through!  Above all it's relational.  I'm learning too in the process, whether how best to advise and mentor, or what does and doesn't work best in various scenarios.  Sometimes it can seem slightly overwhelming, being responsible in this way, but then I remember I am not on my own in this.  We just do the best we can with what we have. 

Celebrating Nomsa's Birthday in February