Josephine came from Zimbabwe for a better life, only to end up begging to survive! Project Brave gave the mother a chance and now she is thriving in life!
The founders of Project Brave met Josephine at a traffic light in Rivonia with her then 6 month old daughter Natasha. When the ladies met Josephine she was depressed and disheartened by her circumstance. Josephine had moved to South Africa in the hopes of finding a brighter and steady life.
Josephine spent her first few months in South Africa employed and hopeful! Sadly she lost her job as the company didn’t last. This forced her to beg, she was told a more lucrative option would be to go into prostitution but she refused!
She said she would never turn to prostitution and despite not enjoying being a woman begging, it felt like her only option to get money for food and shelter.
She constantly looked for work as a domestic worker or in the catering industry. It was because of these skills and her determination that the foundation offered her help.
Project Brave Founders met with Josephine weekly to assess her emotional, and physical needs. We sent her on a domestic worker and child minding course where she received a certificate that she was most proud of.
While waiting for a job, the Project Brave founders spent time mentoring and coaching her in basic life and social skills. Weekly sessions focused on meeting her physical needs and restoring her hope again.
The change in baby Natasha was also massively noticable. When they met she was a somber baby, who hardly smiled and slept most of the day. She had clear signs of malnutrition and was physically and emotionally delayed.
Baby Natasha was enrolled in a local crèche in Johannesburg and has been attending daily ever since. She has started to walk, talk, smile and sing. The crèche ensures she is taken care of physically, and emotionally and her progress has been nothing but miraculous.
Josephine has found a part time job and is able to cover most of her costs herself. She is still looking for work on the other available days she has but has a renewed outlook on life and is in a much better space.