Today I was actually able to have some one on one client contact! I came into work expecting to have our weekly meeting where the social workers present new cases to the rest of the staff. It turned out that most of the staff had a workshop scheduled and unfortunately I could not attend. A young man came in and was seeking our services. He spoke great English and all of the social workers were out of the office, so my supervisor asked if I would like to screen him! Screenings are normally about 20 to 30 minutes and it is usually just a brief conversation to get an idea if we will be able to provide services. I talked with the man for probably 45 minutes. He showed signs of depression and has a lot of problems with his current relationship. He is unfortunately too old for our services. We provide counseling and therapy for children ages 4 - 18 and who are still attending school. After I go over the case with my supervisor on Monday, we will refer him to another agency in the community that works with adults.

It made me feel good that my supervisor had enough trust in me to give me the chance to work with a client. My supervisor also told me that we might be able to find a child that speaks good English that I can work with on a regular basis. I really hope that this works out! I am learning a lot by observing, but I think I could learn so much more by actually practicing the skills.

Besides that, my other work at Empilweni in fundraising. I am hoping to start a fund raising program in the local schools in Khayelitsha. It would be like a penny drive. Who knows… maybe I can even do something similar this fall in Eugene once I get back home! Empilweni is a great organization, but just like any non-profit they need funds to survive. I hope that I will be able to help!