The 1st 1000 days – how a young mom struggling to keep her child, finds support & hope

In April 2024, Naledi, a 28-year-old mother, contacted the OCOF HHCSA office seeking assistance with a foster care or adoption for her unborn child. At the time, she was five months pregnant with a baby boy and caring for her 4-year-old daughter. Naledi had been left stranded by the father of her children after disclosing her pregnancy to him. Through psychosocial support, respite care, and consistent guidance, Naledi developed a special bond with her baby during the remainder of her pregnancy. By the time she was ready to give birth, she had grown confident in her ability to care for her child and chose to keep him. Today, baby Bongani is happy and thriving, and Naledi’s mental health is steadily improving. 

Background  

Naledi grew up in the marginalised community of Ivory Park, raised by an estranged mother after her father’s absence. As a rebellious teen, she struggled with her family relationships, and when her partner abandoned her during her second pregnancy, she felt overwhelmed and isolated. Working a low-income job, Naledi could barely provide for her 4-year-old daughter, and the thought of supporting another child seemed impossible. Desperate, she reached out to OCOF HHCSA in April 2024, intending to place her unborn baby into foster care or adoption. This call marked the beginning of her transformation. 

Systematic challenges 

Living in a single rented room in Ivory Park, Naledi faced overwhelming challenges that significantly impacted her well-being. Despite being employed, her financial strain made it impossible to meet the growing needs of her family. Her relationships with her family were strained, leaving her without any support system, and she suffered from anxiety and stress, compounded by the emotional burden of her partner’s abandonment and unresolved childhood trauma. These hardships are proof of the systemic issues affecting vulnerable young mothers in marginalised communities, where limited financial resources and lack of family and community support only deepen the difficulties, they face in navigating parenthood and daily life. 

The role of AFS-K and OCOF HHCSA intervention support 

Naledi has received ongoing psychosocial support, particularly focused on her mental health, to help her cope with the challenges she faces. She has also been provided with education and information on options such as adoption and foster care to better understand her choices. To further support her, Naledi was linked to a community social worker at the Department of Community Safety, and she has been attending regular counselling sessions. In May 2024, Naledi decided she would like to keep the child. We fully supported her decision and continued to work with her, exploring different approaches to help her prepare for motherhood. On July 28th, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.   

Currently, Naledi has a caregiver in her community who has taken her under her wing, helping with caring for the children when Naledi needs help or is at work. This community caregiver has agreed to become a Temporary Safe Care (TSC) provider for the baby, offering ad hoc support and respite care as Naledi continues to work through her personal hurts and trauma. Additionally, she has been connected to the Diepsloot AFS-K network for continuous support and monitoring, ensuring she remains engaged with community support programmes and that her living conditions are regularly assessed. 

Where is the family now? 

Naledi and her family are doing much better. Her baby is thriving, and her 4-year-old daughter is also doing well. Both children are attending an Early Childhood Development (ECD) center in the area. Naledi has made significant progress in her mental and emotional well-being, providing dedicated care and support to her children. Compared to where she started, her transformation has been amazing to witness and further she recognises that her journey will continue, with ongoing support from us by her side.  

She is now permanently employed, earning a stable salary, which has greatly improved her family’s financial situation. In addition, Naledi has applied for a Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) house, which will improve their living conditions and overall quality of life.