This year, our Matched Giving campaign (running from 27th November to 6th December) enables you to support more young people like Aisha through Khulisa’s social and emotional wellbeing programme. You can read her story below.
How Aisha Came to the Khulisa Programme
Like many girls, her needs had gone unnoticed for a while, as she didn’t disrupt lessons or exhibit behaviours that brought attention to her. But her enthusiasm for learning and her attendance was slipping and she seemed to lack a clear friendship group.
There were small signs that things weren’t going well at home, but nobody at school knew she was sleeping on a sofa in the living room. Or that her homework and uniform was often lost in the chaos of moving between different temporary accommodations, or that she would often miss breakfast so her siblings could have more. Sometimes Aisha would be late for school because she was dropping her younger brother and sister at their school first. Before long, Aisha began receiving detentions for issues that didn’t seem to be her fault, or even particularly significant. Her attitude to teachers and other students changed and she withdrew more and more.
This meant that she struggled to find her place in school, constantly feeling disconnected and overwhelmed.
Gaining Confidence, Resilience and Hope
Through the support of Khulisa’s therapists, Aisha started to gain confidence. She spent time with our team engaging in activities such as drawing, creating masks, and playing games designed to explore different perspectives. She also learned about how the body experiences and processes stress and trauma.
During the programme our team saw Aisha smile for the first time and heard from her teachers that she was actively contributing in class. For the first time, she began to confide in her teachers, who gained a deeper understanding of the challenges she faced even before stepping through the school gates.
She learned how to manage her anxiety and find healthier ways to cope with stress. In group sessions, she discovered a newfound sense of purpose – not just in her own life, but in supporting others who were facing similar struggles.
On the last day, the whole group went around and shared a word or phrase of appreciation. Aisha listened to 9 others all share what they appreciated about her. It made her feel less alone.
How You Can Help
Aisha’s story is not unique. Every day, young people like her struggle with their mental health, often feeling isolated and unsure where to turn. But with the right support, they can overcome these challenges.
Your generous donations can help support Khulisa’s work through providing:
- arts materials
- safe spaces
- trained arts & drama therapists
- support for families and teachers
This week, Khulisa is giving you the exciting opportunity to double the impact of your donation through our 2024 Matched Giving Campaign. Starting on 27th November, every donation made will be matched, doubling your gift and allowing us to reach even more young people in need of support. Your generosity will help provide the resources and support young people need to thrive.
Together, we can ensure more young people like Aisha find the strength to face their futures with hope and resilience.
DONATE TODAY AND HELP US SUPPORT MORE YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE AISHA.
NB: this is a composite story, reflective of the experiences of a wider range of young people who have been through the Khulisa programme and as such does not reflect one person in particular. We use these to tell the story of our work, protect anonymity and safeguard young people on our programme.