Girl Support Group

The Girls Support Group, part of Rays of Hope’s outreach to children in Alexandra, ended its year on a high note when the members gathered at Ikhaya Lomusa, Rays of Hope’s resource centre, for their annual Christmas party. It was a festive occasion as the girls received a cooking lesson from Jennie Morley, Social Worker Consultant, and Bertha Muchadeyi, foster mother to eight orphaned children in a neighbouring house on the campus. After that, they got to enjoy the fruits of their time in the kitchen plus a whole selection of other tasty goodies brought in for the occasion. And, of course, there was a Christmas present for everyone. Ntokozo and Jeanette, both sixteen years of age, explain how important the Support Group has become in their lives. “We have both been part of this group for several years. There are about twenty of us and we meet every Wednesday afternoon after school, sometimes more often when the need arises. The biggest problem faced by teenage girls in Alex is peer pressure. There is so much pressure to engage in dangerous activities such as sex and drug use. Very often, girls do these things even though they don’t want to. At Rays of Hope we feel safe, we are all friends together and there is no pressure. We can choose our lifestyles.” Jennie elaborates, “This Group started out some years ago as a natural progression out of our Child-Headed Households programme (CHH). Once the girls reach a certain age their needs change. Now we have girls that were never part of CHH and the Girls Support Group has its own identity. We help them academically and culturally as well, with excursions to places like Liliesleaf and Constitution Hill. We also focus strongly on Christian teaching and guidance. We have Bible study groups and prayer sessions if the girls request them.” Do these girls somehow feel isolated from their friends outside, possibly even embarrassed because they belong to such a group? Ntokozo and Jeanette both laugh at the idea. “No, definitely not! In fact, most girls envy us. Many of them would like to belong to a club such as ours, where we are free from negative pressure and we do fun things like going to movies. It’s a pity that we can only manage about twenty girls. More would definitely join if they could.” Later in the day, it’s time for the feast. Watching these young women, who live in a challenging and dangerous place, relaxing and enjoying fellowship and good food, it is clear that the Girls Support Group of Rays of Hope is making a real difference.