By: Esmerelda P., Guidance Counselor, Christel House South Africa

Georgevine D.’s story is one of triumph over adversity.  The biggest obstacle related to poverty is emotional trauma. So to fight trauma, we create dreams.

Now in her first year at False Bay College in Westlake, Cape Town, studying electrical engineering, Georgevine believes that she is on her way to living the life she always dreamed and she says that it’s all thanks to the commitment of the principal and teachers of Christel House.

 “I didn’t have it easy, as most learners from Christel House can attest. It was always just my mom and me, after she fetched me from my granny to live with her.  She tried very hard to stay employed and make enough money to look after the two of us. But, she often had to go knocking on doors begging for work. She did whatever she could though I recall a terrible time where we were homeless and had to live with neighbours – anyone who would take us in.”  

It was during that time that a teacher at Christel House, Randall D., invited Georgevine to stay with his family for a week.  Again in 2011 when she wrote her matriculation exams, another teacher, Vivienne S., also let Georgevine stay with her over a period of two months to prepare adequately for her finals.

Georgevine’s mother, Hermina, also recalls all the hardships but says throughout all of it – having been lucky enough to get her daughter into Christel House when she was in grade four – that she didn’t have to worry too much about Georgevine. “During our challenging times I knew my daughter was getting the best education possible, receiving the school supplies and uniforms she needed; being fed and picked up for school every morning and even getting the opportunity to partake in sports. Georgevine was a good student and performed well in sports. She is doing well now too. I am a very proud mother and very grateful.”