From abandonment to hope
Not every child who has experienced trauma “acts out.” Some, like Sisi*, hide their pain behind good behaviour and quiet smiles. When Sisi arrived at Abraham Kriel Bambanani’s Langlaagte campus in 2016, her silence spoke volumes. Abandoned by her mother as a baby and later losing her father, she carried deep feelings of rejection and loneliness, though few would have guessed it.
Her good behaviour earned her a move to our Benoni satellite house, but inside she was struggling. Years of bottled-up pain led to despair and a suicide attempt. With dedicated therapy, care, and encouragement, Sisi began to heal. Through sport, she found joy and confidence. Today, at 18, she’s completing her schooling and preparing to study beauty therapy. She dreams of opening her own nail salon one day.
Her journey from abandonment to hope is a testament to the power of love, care, and second chances. In the same breath it is also a heartbreaking reminder that trauma doesn’t always shout, sometimes it whispers.
Thank you for helping children like Sisi find healing, belonging, and a future filled with possibility. Your continued support turns silent pain into stories of courage and hope.
*Pseudonym
Van verlatenheid tot hoop
Nie elke kind wat trauma beleef het, “reageer uit” of wys dit openlik nie. Sommige, soos Sisi*, steek hul pyn weg agter goeie gedrag en stil glimlaggies. Toe Sisi in 2016 by Abraham Kriel Bambanani se Langlaagte kampus aangekom het, het haar stilte boekdele gespreek. As baba is sy deur haar ma verlaat en sy het later haar pa verloor. Sy het diep gevoelens van verwerping en eensaamheid gedra, maar min mense sou dit kon raai.
Haar goeie gedrag het daartoe gelei dat sy na ons Benoni-satelliet huis verskuif is, maar innerlik het sy geworstel. Jare se opgekropte pyn het tot wanhoop en ’n selfmoordpoging gelei. Met toegewyde terapie, sorg en aanmoediging het Sisi begin herstel. Deur sport het sy vreugde en selfvertroue ontdek. Vandag, op 18, voltooi sy haar skoolloopbaan en berei sy haar voor om skoonheidsterapie te studeer. Sy droom daarvan om eendag haar eie naelsalon oop te maak.
Haar reis van verlatenheid na hoop is ’n getuienis van die krag van liefde, sorg en tweede kanse. In dieselfde asem is dit ook ’n hartseer herinnering dat trauma nie altyd skree nie, soms fluister dit stilweg.
Dankie dat u kinders soos Sisi help om genesing, ’n gevoel van geborgenheid en ’n toekoms vol moontlikhede te vind. U volgehoue ondersteuning verander stil pyn in stories van moed en hoop.
*Skuilnaam