Minette and Jaco

I completed my training with BBBSSA in 2004 and, about a month later, was told that I had been matched. I met with the Big Brothers Big Sisters agent at Firlands Children's home and was introduced to my little.

Jaco was thirteen at the time and a little shy at first, but we quickly warmed to each other. Initially, I only visited him at the children's home and we played Yoh Gi Oh. Big Brother matched us excellently since we had the same interests and enjoyed the same things.

After the first three months, I was allowed to take him out. We did all kinds of things, from movies to paint ball, and always had a great time together. He opened up to me fairly early - I think it was only about the fifth time together that he started to talk about his parents and how he felt about them.

Of course, it isn't that easy to gain your Little's trust. The thing that I found which made a big difference was being dependable. You need to show up every week at the arranged time consistently. One day I was late and Jaco must've thought that I wasn't coming. By the time I got there, he'd gotten himself into so much trouble that he was grounded and I wasn't allowed to take him out that day. Needless to say, I was never late again without letting him know.

I adopted Jaco in June 2006, which was amazingly easy. Of course, since Jaco was already fifteen, they basically just asked him what he wanted and it was signed, sealed and delivered. The entire process took about three months and voila! - we are now officially family.

We moved to Singapore shortly after the adoption. We expected the worst here in Singapore because, not only was he struggling in school previously, but he now had to be educated in English. But, he is doing really, really well. I think all he needed was a little support.

He is now well adjusted and has made a whole lot of friends. We will be celebrating his sixteenth birthday this month. This will essentially be the very first birthday party he has ever had, and it's only the beginning of his future - a future where he will actually have a chance to reach his potential.

Regards, Minette.

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