Mcayla’s bumpy upbringing paves beautiful future for her

Mcayla Reichert (18) serves as living proof that individuals should not let their backgrounds determine their future as the world is full of possibilities.

Mcayla was raised by her grandparents as caregivers under the supervision of Alberton Child Welfare social workers. She was originally born in Cape Town but moved to Vereeniging with her parents and is the first child out of four children.

However, due to undesirable circumstances and world tribulations, Mcayla and her siblings had to move again. this time to Alberton, after her parents became victims of drugs and other social illnesses.

According to Mcayla, she had to be strong for her siblings at the age of eight (Grade Two), She also didn’t understand what was happening with her parents because of the drugs.

“Through all the difficulties I knew eventually that it would not last permanently. That was the worst time of my life because I had to beg for food and other essential needs so my siblings wouldn’t go to bed on an empty stomach. My biological parents bought drugs and alcohol with most of the money they received,” Mcayla said.

Grandparents’ intervention

Mcayla’s maternal grandparents, Johan (63) and Antoinetta Heinmann (60), received a call from neighbours telling them about the kind of life the young ones are living and the difficulties they are facing.

Johan and Antoinetta had to give up their lives in Cape Town and relocate to Alberton to look after their grandchildren and save them from the subjected stresses.

Antoinetta said they gave up everything in Cape Town because the grandchildren had already suffered enough and didn’t want them to relocate to the Mother City.

“I am more than proud of my grandchildren because the situation they faced impacted them negatively, but they still chose to remain in God. They did not fall into the same as their parents. I would do it again to save my vulnerable children,” said Mcayla’s heroine.

Antoinetta told the Alberton Record that the first thing she did when she arrived in Gauteng was to enquire if the school knew what was going on at home.

“The social workers wanted to take the four children out of the home. I couldn’t allow it because I wanted to give them the love their mother could not. The social workers established a working relationship between me and the children,” said Antoinetta.

Light at the end of the tunnel

The tough times that Mcayla faced did not deter her from reaching for her big dream of being a medical doctor. It also didn’t make her stop believing that life is full of great possibilities.

Mcayla is a matric candidate enrolled in the science stream in Hoërskool Alberton and is one of the top-performing students in the department of science. She is also conditionally accepted for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree programme at Stellenbosch University.

The aspiring medical doctor said that she would not have been where she is today if it was not for God’s yes and amen promises. She said that she knows that she will complete her tertiary education in time so as to start giving back to the community.

“Even if you have a carefully thought-out plan for the future, you never know what curveballs life may throw your way. Don’t let a little disappointment divert you from your goals. I’ve always reminded myself that while these setbacks may be disheartening at the time, they also present wonderful chances for me to keep learning and developing. Sometimes a step away from your desired path can end up being a step in the right direction,” Mcayla indicated.

Establishing healthy relationships

Mcayla’s journey might have been bumpy in the beginning; however, she has established a very strong relationship with Viwe Ndzuzo.

Viwe, a social worker at the Alberton Child Welfare, has built a strong bond with the four Reichert siblings more especially the oldest sibling, Mcayla.

According to Viwe, she took over the Reichert matter sometime early last year from a senior social worker who left the centre. She has never met youngsters with a zest for life like the four siblings, despite a challenging childhood.

“Usually, most children do not fully recover from being exposed to substandard behaviours by people who are supposed to show them guidance and direction. But trust me, these four I can confidently state that they are meant for bigger and more beautiful things because of how they conduct themselves,” said the public servant.

Viwe said that the reason for the tight bond between her and Mcayla is because of the basic understanding they have towards each other. They have even grown closer in their personal life and share similarities.

“I had to apply professionalism and adhere to social work ethics regarding my relationship to the children. Their father recently demanded to see them after a long time since their grandparents took them in 2008. I knew how the children felt about seeing them, but I had to take the matter to court to let the law decide considering that the children are now old and can speak for themselves,” said Viwe.

This and that

Mcayla went on to her matric dance on October 12. Viwe did not even think twice about seeing Mcayla walking the red carpet as she loves being a part of Mcayla’s small and big achievements.

According to Mcayla, Viwe made the unforgettable night of her life more special.

She wants to study at Stellenbosch University because she enjoys living in Cape Town.

“My heart is in Cape Town. This is surely what measures life’s beautiful moments – doing what you love at a place you love,” Mcayla concluded.