Leila's Story

About the Book

This story tells the experience of a little girl who lost her family in a fire and she had to travel many miles to live with an aunt in another town. She felt sad, guilty and confused and struggled to find her religious identity. Coping Skills is about talking to an adult and asking the right people for answers when you are confused and curious about your family and religion. Finding out from children practicing other religions. It is about learning to trust the adults who care for you and talking to the teachers at school.

About the Author

Brendah has a background in health care and teaching. She developed the curriculum for childcare workers in a tertiary training college. She taught the psychological aspects of learning activities in child development and was a founding member of a group of college tutors and educationalists who trained childcare tutors to look at curriculum issues and resources that focussed on unlearning racism and discrimination in the early years. She taught for fifteen years and organised conferences nationally and internationally as a trainer to address antiracist attitudes. She has worked in many countries and was a founder member of a charity in South Africa to support children and teenagers to cope with loss. The organisation still exists in South Africa. She worked as a psychotherapist with mental health charities in the United Kingdom and has recently retired.