January is back-to-school month.
The ratios of excitement, pride, relief and fear are grossly distorted for the children in youth-care centres and their caregivers in Bloemfontein and around the country.
The initial excitement at the beginning of a school year is the same as for all other children: the new beginning, opportunities, the chance to try again, the chance to level up.
It is often pride that is lacking, and pride that is in most cases replaced with relief. There is rarely new uniform, and only relief that last year’s uniform still fits or has been neatly repaired and the stains removed as well as possible. Relief that the used shoes, lovingly donated and well taken care of, fit properly.
There could be pride because the church donated a new pencil bag with the essential stationery required, together with relief that your friend from the youth-care centre is in the other class, so that your school friends will not notice you all have the exact same things, neatly branded with the company that donated them.
Pride in your lunchbox that your caregiver packed, but also some worry – will there be an apple for next week?
Then there is also fear of a new teacher, of a more complex schedule; for the youth-care centre child, also fear of there not being enough book coverings to go around to all the children at the centre, or that last year’s school bag will tear from the weight of all the new books and files.
“As a caregiver at Our Child and Youth-Care Centre in Bloemfontein, I play a part in ensuring that 100 learners, attending seven different schools, are battle ready when January comes around,” says Deirdré Schroeder.
“Getting so many children dressed and equipped for the challenges of the new year is a monumental task. As much as I am proud of every single child, and excited just like any other parent – these emotions are often overshadowed by relief and fear. Not only for the students, but also for myself and my colleagues.
“Relief that we can get 100 scholars dressed in the minimum uniform requirements, relief that we are able to (at least today) pack a lunch box with a little extra in it. Relief that we could fill a pencil bag with at least some of what the teacher required.”
Schroeder says with the arrival of the summer, they fear for what is to come.
“Where will the money come from for 100 school and 100 sports uniforms? How will we manage to purchase 100 high-quality school bags that won’t start tearing after the second week? How will we manage to purchase the 1 000s of HB pencils and rulers bendy enough to withstand the touching ends game? How will we manage to send our 100 learners off to their first day feeling more excitement and pride then relief and fear?
“To help our team manage the back-to-school process, Our Child and Youth-Care Centre is proud to announce the launch of our 2023 back-to-school project: 100 Scholars – 100 Skoliere.”
Individuals, businesses, or outgoing Gr. 12 parent committees are invited to support this project by adopting the back-to-school expenses of at least one youth-care centre resident.
To be part of the 100 Scholars project, call Our Child and Youth-Care Centre on 051-444-2934 or send email to ontvangs2@vironskinders.org.za.
