Capital de Trabajo

Pseudonym chosen by the participant: Jaydene

Jaydene was a friendly young girl who was open to new experiences and demonstrated a curiosity about life. She started visiting the Drop-In Centre in 2011. She was currently staying with her parents and sister. According to the social worker, the family often struggled with finances as they were from a low socio-economic background. She visited the Drop-In Centre each day of the week except Sundays. She was fond of the recreational and musical activities which were provided for all the adolescents at both the CYCC and the Drop-In Centre. She attended a local school close to the Drop-In Centre.

Jaydene said that taking part in the EAL programme offered her a variety of new experiences: "Ek was verbaas … toe sȇ ek vir myself dit is nou die eerste keer nou dat ek 'n perd sien en naby 'n perd staan … so sȇ ek aanmekaar vir myself …" ["I was surprised … then I said to myself, this is now the first time now that I see a horse and stand close to a horse … so I kept on saying to myself …"].

Connection and rapport were established when she gave the horse a name:

"Die ene was ons perd, die ene was Sandy [perd se naam] …" ["This one was our horse, this one was Sandy [horse's name] …"] and when she interacted with the horse in various activities: "… gee die perd kos en water, dan was ek die perd en dan borsel ek die perd … dit was baie lekker" ["… give the horse food and water, then I wash the horse and then I brush the horse … it was very nice"].

At the beginning of the programme, Jaydene said that she had felt afraid:

"Want die eerste dag toe ek daar gekom het toe was ek baie bang … die tweede dag wat ons daantoe gegaan het was ek nie meer bang vir 'n perd … ek het die perd leer ken." ["Because the first day when I came there, I was very scared … he second day we went there I was not scared of a horse any more, I got to know the horse"].

She said that you should be aware of your personal feelings, as they might have an influence on others:

"Jy moet nie wys vir die perd jy's bang vir hom nie anders is die perd ook bang vir jou …" ["You should not show the horse that you're scared of him, otherwise the horse is also scared of you …"].

Jaydene likewise admitted that she had had mixed feelings about how the other participants interacted both with each other and with the horses:

"Was so lekker … bly ek heeltyd vir Nicole [skuilnaam vir deelnemer] sȇ I love my horses very much … en soms dan bly ons [deelnemers] partykeer so stry" ["It was so nice … I kept on saying to Nicole [participant's pseudonym] I love my horses very much … and sometimes then we [participants] kept on arguing"].

She also described how she managed to reduce the arguing between the participants:

"Miskien hulle twee stry … dan sȇ ek sommer … nou gaan ek die perd vat en dan vat sy die perd" ["Maybe the two of them argue … then I just say … now I'm going to take the horse, and then she takes the horse"].

Jaydene shared various other problems she had to solve while interacting with the horses:

"Ons moes iets bou … daar was sulke pale … dan moet ons die goed so aanmekaar gesit het dan moet ons met die perd daaroor geloop het en dan was daar daardie paaltjies so een vir een pak en dan moet ons met die perd so daar omgeloop het …" ["We had to build something … there were these poles … then we had to put these things together, then we had to walk across it with the horse, and then there were these small poles stacked one by one, and then we had to walk round it with the horse …"].

She commented on the group work activities and the challenges that emerged for her personally: "Ek wil partykeers alleen werk want 'n mens raak moeg as almal moet saamwerk …" ["Sometimes I want to work alone, because you get tired when everybody has to work together …"].

Jaydene highlighted the acknowledgement that followed once the problems of working together in a group had been solved and success had been achieved:

"Toe gaan die perd oor toe wen ekke …, ekke, Hillary en Kim … en toe sȇ sy [terapeut] … ja ons het dit reg gedoen …" ["Then the horse went over and I won … I, Hillary and Kim … and then she [therapist] said … yes, we did it right …"].

Apart from the interaction with the horses and her co-participants, she enjoyed talking to the therapists and sharing her personal experiences with them:

"Hulle [terapeute] was ook baie lekker. Hulle het ook saamgespeel en al die aktiwiteite gedoen, hulle het nie net daar gestaan nie, hulle loop saam met ons en so en ons het ook baie lekker gesels …" ["They [therapists] were also very nice. They also played with us and did the activities, they didn't just stand there, they walk with us and so on, and we also made nice conversation …"].

Besides the relationship she formed with the therapists, Jaydene expressed a fondness for the horses and described how this bond was fostered through touch:

"Dan gee ek die perde so 'n drukkie, so 'n stywe drukkie … toe sȇ ek vir myself hierdie perd is baie lief vir my" ["Then I give the horses a hug, such a tight hug … then I said to myself, this horse loves me very much"].

She described her mindfulness of the horses' feelings and explained the approach people should take when engaging with them:

"'n Mens moet nie onbeskof en hard met die perde wees nie en mens moet nie die perde so hard kam of borsel nie of so seer maak want die perd wil nie daarvan hou nie …" ["You must not be rude and rough with the horses, and you mustn't comb or brush them so rough or hurt them, because the horse will not like it …"].

She revealed her wishes to see the horses again:

"Ek mis maar eintlik die perde ding [program] wat ons gedoen het. In die aande lȇ ek so wakker … ek dink, ek kan nie so slaap nie … want ek mis hulle [perde] baie …" ["I actually miss the horse thing [programme] that we did. At night, I lie awake … I think, I can't sleep … because I miss them [the horses] a lot …"].

Contact with the horses brought about inner developments, which included nightly dreams: "Ek het daaroor gedroom hoe werk mens met 'n perd … en in my drome ek leer die kinders hoe werk met 'n perd so en dit was baie lekker …" ["I dreamt how you work with a horse … and in my dreams I taught adolescents how to work with a horse, and it was so nice …"].

She became increasingly aware of events happening around her and made some observations about the horse's appearance:

"Ek het nie geweet 'n perd se maag is so groot nie … verwag die perd want dit is 'n meisie?" ["I didn't know that a horse's tummy is so big … is the horse pregnant because it's a girl?"].

This stimulated her curiosity and an intuitive appetite for new discoveries. Jaydene highlighted an increase in her confidence through the interactive experiences:

"Ek het nog nie met perde gewerk nie, ek het nooit geweet nie … en nou weet ek …" ["I haven't worked with horses, I never knew … and now I know …"].

The way she conceptualized her experience suggests that Jaydene had a positive reaction to the EAL programme and that she thoroughly enjoyed it:

"Daar anderkant was dit baie lekker … alles was lekker, net daardie perd wat so onbeskof gewees het toe ons so vinnig na hom toe gegaan het… hy dit seker nie gelike nie … ek het uitgesien daarvoor" [deelname aan die program] ["Over there it was very nice … everything was nice, just that horse that was so angry when we went up to it so quickly … he probably didn't like it … I looked forward to it [participation in the programme]"].

She added that the programme had had a positive influence on her life and that she would like a second opportunity to take part in such a programme:

"Dit [programme] het my lewe baie beter gemaak…ek sal baie bly wees as ek nog 'n kans kry …" ["This [the programme] made my life better … I will be very glad if I get another chance …"].

The themes which emerged in Jaydene's case related to her care in developing a bond or relationship with a horse. She seemed to find great delight in showing physical affection, nurturing or grooming the horses during the sessions. During a conversation with another participant, she voiced her affection for and attachment to the horses, saying, "I love my horses very much."

Her concern for the well-being of the horses mirrored an increasing awareness of her own emotional competence and the development of compassion. As the sessions progressed, she became more confident of her ability to interact with the horses. Working in a group seemed challenging for her, yet achieving a successful outcome reinforced her value as a team player and increased both her social skills and her internal motivation. She shared her sense of achievement with the therapist, which in turn reinforced her communication skills.

Her vigilant nature and observational skills enhanced her knowledge of horses, which in turn extended her cognitive frame of reference. Although this was her first encounter with horses, she was able to practice essential life skills such as problem-solving during the sessions. Her overall experience was thus seen as constructive and meaningful.