Making a difference since 2009, Ma’s for Wellington’s fieldworkers serve as liaison between the organisation and the immediate community. They work alongside the parents/caregivers of the at-risk children in the Ma’s for Wellington programme; supporting them and offering guidance where necessary, to change and to improve the quality of life for their children.

Ma’s for Wellington received R10,000 from StreetSmart Wellington, towards the fieldworkers programme.

From a very young age James had to overcome huge stumbling blocks. His mother was very sick and mostly bedridden. He completed the 3-year programme and was ready to go to school, but due to his mother illness and the fact that she couldn’t care for him, he dropped out of school after a week.

During their house visit the field workers identified that he needed help and support. They took him into the programme for the next two years. He became part of a group of children from our programme that was attending school but, unfortunately, due to various reasons James did not continue to attend school.

James’ mother died that year and he was placed in foster care with his aunt. The organisation assisted his aunt to apply for him to be placed in one of the local schools. According to his age he was supposed to be in Grade 3, but he had not even completed Grade R. The school had him tested and he was placed directly into Grade 3!

It is now two years later and James is doing very well at school. This boy could have been lost on the streets to become just another statistic – one of the children that join gangs or become addicted to drugs, with no hope for the future.

With the help of organisations like StreetSmart, James could be given a chance to have a good and prosperous future - to reach for his dreams and eventually, to make a positive contribution to his community.