Meet the children

Giselle came to this country as a baby in her mother's arms ... a hapless refugee fleeing from the violence in her own country. Her mother must have thought it was the answer to a prayer when she met, and married, a South African man - but it wasn't long before he began sexually abusing the baby girl. Giselle ended up in a treatment centre for troubled children before coming to us in 2003. Her parents subsequently divorced and she is trying to mend her relationship with her mother.

Giselle needed extensive psycho-social therapy to overcome her troubled start in life - and is now a happy, bubbly young girl who is well liked by her peers and shows leadership qualities.

She was recently promoted to the Halfway House where she assumed responsibility for the monthly grocery allowance and always balances it exactly!

Eleven-year old David was abandoned first by his mother, and later by his father who attempted to 'sell' him. When he came to us, he had a terrible fear of abandonment and a bed-wetting problem, which he has since overcome.

David is a bright child who loves school - especially reading - and is always ready with a hug for his caregiver.

'A cutie who is always on the go and a real live-wire!' That's how her childcare worker describes little Maria. Nowadays it's hard to believe that before she came to us, she was repeatedly raped and sodomised by her older brothers.

She still has difficulty at school and was recently moved to a modified education, special school where she is in Grade 1. Despite her traumatic family life, Maria loves her mom very much and a re-unification process is underway.

*Children's names have been changed to protect identity