17 Nov 2019

“I stand before you to declare that I’m committed to change…I’ve discovered that all the challenges I have explained have been impeding my progress in life…,” declared standard seven orphans, each taking an oath at an orphan retreat graduation ceremony. 

In response to a declaration made by each one of them towards changing their lives for the better, wearing off their trials and tribulations of the past, other orphans would in turn pledge to support and encourage the oath taker in their endeavours towards bettering their lives. 

The orphans, from primary schools in the villages of Motlhabaneng, Molalatau, Bobonong, Gobojango, Semolale and Mabolwe are the thirteenth group to be trained in Bobirwa, hence dubbed Bobirwa Sub-district Cohort 13. They spent a week and a half away from distractions, undergoing Balekane wilderness therapy at Selepswe Resort. Balekane stems from the fact that the orphans are age mates ranging from 12-15 years.   

One of their representatives, Ketshephileone Moloko said as a collective, they agreed that they had to seek psychosocial support from social workers, guidance teachers and police when faced with life trials and tribulations. 

He said in the course of their therapy, they interacted with other Balekane from other districts at Mashatu Game Reserve. 

At the end of their graduation, the Balekane, who demonstrated their healing from loss and grief, sang a touching rendition of Ada Habershon’s Will The Circle Be Unbroken. 

One of the trainers revealed that the orphans initially wept when singing the heart-wrenching song that reminded the innocent souls of their losses, but eased up upon reception of psychosocial training and sang with ease. An excerpt from the song goes: I was standing by the window, on a cold and cloudy day, when I saw the hearse come rolling, for to carry my mother away. 

The lyrics evoked memories of when the kids lost their parents and the resultant hollowness that followed after it dawned on them that their parents were no more. 

The boys and girls underwent nature based therapy that required maximum concentration, since it carried empowerment training towards facing challenges of life, senior social welfare officer in Bobirwa Sub District, Ms Balebamang Molebi explained. 

The therapy, according to Ms Molebi, revolved around EARTH (empathy, action oriented, relationships building, transformative methodology and healing therapy.) 

She found that in the few days they spent together, some whose self-esteem and confidence were at all-time low, regained it and were able to mingle and interact with others. She said that they started exhibiting some emotions that augured well with the training.  Ends