Back on Track Twins

Our fostered twins are 10 years old. They are my niece and nephew. Unfortunately for them their family dynamic was broken before they were even born. They have been pushed from pillar to post, caregiver to caregiver (including us) since they were 3 weeks old. Their parents are emotionally and financially unable to raise them and since February 2016 they have been permanently placed with us (with both parents full agreement). Their parents have been separated and then divorced since they were about 3.

The courts have now placed them in our temporary care until the foster care hearing date of 25 April 2017.

In 2016 when we took them in, my spouse and i both had fairly stable income and although obviously a financial impact was felt we were able to cope. However, in September 2016 I lost my job. This has meant an approximate deficit in our income of around R20,000-00 ($1500) a month since then. I have started a small business and although there has been some turnover, starting a new business in October is quite daun ting as most businesses in SA slow down for the December breaks. The goal is that it will be earning better income by the end of February as the new year kicks in and work is more forthcoming in the bookkeeping and payroll industry (my areas of expertise), and we will once again be on a sound financial footing.

I am setting up the crowdfunding appeal in the hopes that I can eradicate the debts and backlog that have accrued since October, just so that we can stop reeling from this speed bump.

The twins have settled in well, their schoolwork has improved from almost failing to average and improvement happens almost daily. The anxieties and fears that caused them to always be nervous and anxious have been greatly allayed by almost a year of constancy and routine. They are more socially adept and laugh and smile more easily, without the need to always feel like they need adult attention to validate their worth.

I have purposely not enumerated the exact difficulties they have faced in the first 9 years of their lives, suffice to say they include witnessing both parents fighting including violence, excessive alcohol abuse, drug abuse, multiple suicide attempts by a parent, aggression and beatings at the hands of a parents partner, and consequent behavioral and emotional acting out on the part of the twins. In their little minds they knew they were a nuisance and were only accepted by anyone on a short term basis until the next situation change happened and they had to adapt again.

I would hate for them to have to go back to that environment and hope that by raising these funds I can focus on my business and them, rather than on trying to make up backlogs in debts and dealing with aggressive debt collectors who are hovering at our door.

If you can find it in your heart and finances to assist us this one time, we would be so very grateful. I am mindful of how bad it is for others out there and so I continue to strive to provide for my own in every way I possibly can. This is just a short term possible solution to get our heads above water once again.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story.