Cape Town: Wednesday, Dec. 9

Day 10: Frustration and Hope

DeNovo Drug Rehabilitation Center

This was the first drug rehab center we visited and it was a great place. It’s funded by the government and teens can come at no cost to them or their families. They can get there three ways: come in on their own, a family member can submit a “police report” of sorts stating they are addicted and need help, or the court can mandate it. The greatest drug problem is “tick,” aka meth. Boys as young as 14 years old are addicted, it’s so sad. YMCA staff come in to the facility once per week to do teambuilding activities and teach life lessons. The YMCA staff also follow up with the kids after they leave the center by calling their parents and visiting their home to see if they are staying off drugs. Geraldene (YMCA staff at our host YMCA) told us only three of the dozen or so boys in each session she leads at DeNovo will overcome their addiction.

Listening to Geraldene talk to these boys was inspiring. Her words touched my heart and hopefully her message reached the boys’ hearts as well. She told them how much potential they have and that she and the YMCA is there for them with whatever they need to be successful in overcoming their addiction. She is a small, 21-year-old, soft spoken person, but her words were wise and powerful. If anyone can make a difference in those boys’ lives, it is Geraldene and her team.

YZone afterschool program

This afternoon we got watch Dalene in action! She led the YZone afterschool program and did an excellent job. The kids, ages 10-13ish, performed a skit about challenges they face. The skit involved the kids going to a party, and then the girl telling her mom she slept with a boy who has HIV and she is pregnant by him. I watched in disbelief that these children are faced with these issues at such a young age. I applaud Dalene and the rest of the YMCA staff for allowing the children to be so honest and address the real issues they are facing in their lives. They were great kids and we were lucky to have time to spend with them getting to know them and playing games.