Petra Institute’s course helps orphanage care takers

Petra Institute, a faith based organisation called to serve the Christian community by building capacity for children’s ministry, presented one of their courses, Walking with Wounded Children (WWWC), in Modimole (formerly known as Nylstroom).

This institute shares God’s desire that lost and broken children are to be found and restored to healing Christian families and communities, thereby joining Him in transforming society.

Gretha Lourens, Riëtte Botha and Odette Davids of Petra hosted the course at the Nylstroom-Oos Dutch Reformed Church. There were 15 participants of which 11 were staff from an orphanage. Participants put their newly acquired skills to practice by playing with children from two houses at the orphanage.

They started off with the senior Primary school girls next to each other, to play in the big group, especially running games. Usually children from the two houses are opposing teams, which do not mix. The house ‘mother’ reported that after playing the afternoon, the girls from both houses did not stop playing until supper time and wanted to continue through the night. The next day the high school girls were visited and they all played together. During the evening, there was no electricity so the girls all sat together and talked. Previously everyone did their own thing when the lights were out.

Garry Landreth said: “Play is a child’s language and toys are their words.” By playing non-competitive games with a group of children, it binds them together and it overcomes age, colour and gender differences. Playing in a large group is also very effective as a therapeutic technique to build relationships as children become uninhibited and will start sharing their emotions. Petra Institute uses these techniques during the Walking with Wounded Children course. The institute believes the more opportunity they create to play, the more opportunity the children have to play/talk about their trauma. One participant even dealt with a personal problem and experienced healing after 40 years, during one practice session.

The philosophy of this training and education is that it is Christian orientated, relational, contextual and based on facilitating experiential learning. For more information on Petra Institute visit www.petra.co.za. If you want to find out how to get involved call 013 751 1166/7 or email info@petra.co.za.