Written by: Life Child
Article source: JOY! Magazine
When Life Child’s community worker visited 2-year-old Isabella and her mother in 2017, we decided to offer Isabella a sponsorship to attend our Life Child Preschool. She started as a shy little girl. Inspired by the heroic characters of the Bible, she has transformed into a confident and compassionate little person, always willing to help her teachers and classmates. The Montessori-based education at the preschool instilled in Isabella a love for learning. Her mother Ladonna says, “She is a very smart little girl and shares Bible stories with us and makes us pray before eating and sleeping”. It is not surprising that she says she would like to become a doctor one day!
A seemingly hopeless situation
Twenty-three-year-old Ladonna and her two children lived in a rented, two-roomed tin shack in the Kosovo informal settlement, along with her brother, alcoholic mother, cousin and nephew. They all shared one bed in the windowless, dark shack. Ladonna had fallen pregnant again and was desperate and without hope when Life Child intervened. She started participating in the parents’ cell group where she found new meaning and purpose. She developed a passion for cooking through watching Jamie Oliver’s cooking shows on TV. She was encouraged to do a six week cooking course and to pursue her goal to become a chef, which she did, despite the desperate conditions at home and having to deal with her mother’s alcoholic behaviour.
The first home owner in her family
While Ladonna was struggling to find a job with her newly acquired cooking skills, her mother and the rest of the family contracted Tuberculosis. Hopelessly depressed, Ladonna tried to end her life. Fortunately, no lasting damage was done and with Life Child’s counselling, she is well on the way to recovery and learning to trust God. She started selling household products and with the proceeds she was able to purchase a plot and build a two-roomed zinc house for herself and her children. She is a proud home owner, the first one in her family to own her own home. “Before my grandmother died I told her that I would be the one to ‘break the chain’ in our family, and I have!”
Life Child exists to reach orphan and vulnerable children and restore communities for generational change.
Finding joy together in Christ
On the home front, Ladonna has established boundaries and a healthy relationship with her mother. Ladonna is also now a responsible mother and loves her children dearly! “My children are my best friends. As a family we have learnt to find joy together.” Isabella leads the way by praying bold prayers of faith for the things that they need.
A transformed family
We have seen first-hand the change that has transformed this beautiful family! This December Isabella graduates from our preschool and we know that she is going to succeed as she enters primary school! At Life Child we continue to support our families through our ongoing ministries and our local church in the community! Through our work in Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, we believe that children, families, and communities can be transformed; one life at a time. For more information visit lifechild.org.za or email info@lifechild.org.za
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Date published: 25/11/2020
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