Feb. 22. 07…Learning About my Clients

Today I started going through the files of the various children I will be working with. It is interesting to be able to see them playing on the playground as happy little boys and little girls only to find out that they were abandoned at age 2 by granny after their mother died. And that their granny used to come and visit and then one day found the child to be too immature but may take the child back when it gets older, so that he/she can help around the house. I am thankful that the Mohau Centre is able to take these children in and care for them properly. I also found out that quite a few of the children are displaying sexual behaviors at the young age of 8 and up. Rather than acting out or showing other signs of trauma this is how these children display it. This is something that scares me to no end and concerns me for AR’s orphan homes. What I find interesting is that the instigators are the girls and the boys are being assaulted until they give in and have sex with the girl. I am glad that I am seeing the dark side of running a home as well as all the good sides. This internship is great preparation for me to see how to start this home off right. I will also be counseling these girls while I am here and this will be defiantly something we will work on.