Restory Lives
Breaking cycles. Changing lives.
The ReStory Foundation enables orphans and vulnerable children to be courageous agents of change, both in Bhambayi and beyond. This includes psycho-social support, education, life skills to activate growth, talent development, social services, and practical support.
Shining Stars
(ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN)
The ReStory Foundation starts developing positive cycles of growth with our Shining Stars (orphans and vulnerable children). Creating a sense of belonging and identity is the most critical foundation to transforming the life of a child who is not sure where they belong, or even if they are wanted. This we do through the meaningful connections we grow. Our educational, creative and life skills programmes further enable this process of transformation for over 200 orphans and and vulnerable children we support.
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Connection
One-on-one mentorship, youth worker home visits, youth groups, play therapy and counselling.
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Learning
Life skills, basic literacy, online learning (including Advantage Learn) and maths support (helpers from advantaged schools)
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Creativity
Creative workshops and extra murals, covering sport, dance, drama, and art.
Rising Stars
(SCHOOL LEAVERS)
After school, challenges increase as these young hopefuls face a bleak future, with few employment opportunities and the temptations of drugs and crime. We continue to journey with our Rising Stars (school leavers) to support them in becoming positive contributors. This includes individual support and life skills for these young adults, as well as tertiary opportunities, job training and linkages, as well as small business training and mentorship.
Guiding Stars
(GUARDIANS AND MENTORS)
For this cycle to work, our Guiding Stars (guardians and mentors) also need support and empowerment. They are often at the coal face of unimaginably difficult circumstances and overwhelmingly scarce resources. In an area struggling with gender-based violence and health issues, they, like the children, are often in a state of grief and trauma. Guardians are offered counselling, support groups and assistance in the grant process. Food vouchers are earned through serving in the vegetable gardens. Income generation is possible through the sewing group, led by Thembi Biyela. Thembi is a skilled seamstress and guardian herself, who, in a wheelchair since childhood, is an inspiration.
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Training and Support Groups
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Food Security
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Income Generation
From dependance to growth
A culture of giving back is instilled at each stage. Our big win is that the Special Stars will ultimately become Guiding Stars for the next generation of Special Stars (orphans). Through this, the negative cycle that begins with children who don’t have a safe space in the world is broken, creating a positive cycle of growth.
Stand Together. Build Together. Be the Change.
As the ReStory Foundation, we encourage every person to ‘Be the Change’. It does not matter how young they are or how little they appear to possess, they can play their part in making a positive difference in the world.
Building courageous agents of change- this is not just words on a page for the ReStory Foundation. We are aligning every programme and event around developing agency in our children, young adults, and guardians. Examples include challenging our children to meet with community leaders to bring positive change in their community; discussions around making the right choices, such as saying no to drugs; teaching them about their role to be active citizens; and getting them to put “Be the change” into action every day by cleaning up their community.
Local Heroes Leading Transformation
As far as possible we empower people within the community to be the primary sources of help and hope. Our social workers and youth workers all live in the community and most of them were on our programmes before joining the staff
