“The communities we work with are hungry for change. They just need the skills and space to find it.”
These words from Lene November (61) capture the heart of her work across the Western Cape. As a facilitator of the Brightstar Lifestyle programme – an interactive personal development course that builds emotional resilience, self-awareness, and practical life skills for both adults and children – Lene is helping ignite transformation in communities across the region. The programme forms part of Badisa’s broader network of support and intervention strategies, offered through the community care package under the Kuumba Care banner. Lene plays a vital role in turning the programme’s impact into meaningful change at grassroots level.
“The Brightstar programme gives people a mirror,” Lene says. “It helps them pause, look inward, and realise that they are capable of more.” Whether she’s helping a withdrawn child speak up for the first time or supporting an overwhelmed parent through the Parenting Skills programmes to recognise their own worth, Lene believes deeply in the transformative potential of the work.
Change happens from the inside out
“One session I’ll never forget involved a young boy who was very quiet and shy,” says Lene. “He hardly spoke during the first few activities, but then, unexpectedly, he opened up and shared something deeply personal. You could see the change in him immediately. And what was beautiful was how the other children followed his lead. Sometimes, all it takes is one person being vulnerable to break the silence.”
“For me, these moments are more than emotional, they’re intentional. Every time someone opens up, it chips away at the stigma around issues like emotional well-being, family struggles, and mental health. The creative activities we use are designed to spark those conversations in a safe and accessible manner. It helps people reframe the stories they’ve been telling themselves for years, and to start writing new ones.”
A heart for people and communities
“My journey started in Calitzdorp, a quiet little town in the Klein Karoo where I was raised with a strong sense of ‘ubuntu’,” says Lene. “I finished school in Oudtshoorn and moved to Cape Town in 1990. Delft became our home, and after more than 30 years, it still is.”
“It’s in Delft that I’ve really come to understand how much family dynamics shape us, not just as individuals, but as communities. My husband Bart and I have built a life here, and our three children, Cherry-Lynn, Heinrich, and Anasstasia, have been my anchor through everything. Their love and support are what allow me to give so much of myself to others.”Her professional journey has always followed her heart. After years of volunteer work with the Labour Ministry, she joined full-time in 2010, combining her spiritual values with social action. Just two months after being retrenched in 2021, she joined Badisa Tygerberg, completed her training in social auxiliary work, and discovered the Brightstar programme. Since then, she’s visited countless Badisa programmes.
“We want to see families grow, not fall apart.”
“You don’t always see the change immediately,” says Lene. “Sometimes it’s just a shift in someone’s body language, a little spark in their eyes, or the quiet one suddenly raising their hand during a group discussion. Healing takes time. But I’ve seen it enough to know that the communities we work with are hungry for change. They just need the skills and the space to find it.”
“It’s not just about the children,” she adds. “So many parents are carrying their own pain. When they haven’t had the chance to heal, that pain gets passed down. If we can help the adults heal, then we’re already helping to break the cycle of trauma for the next generation. That’s why I believe so strongly in the Parenting Skills programme. Empowerment has to include the whole family.”
Lene’s work is deeply rooted in her faith. “I always remind people that they are important to God. We need to go back to the Bible to gain perspective. That’s where our strength comes from. People have the perception that social workers come into your home to break families apart, but that’s not true. We’re here to plant seeds of healing. We want to see families grow, not fall apart.”
For more information about the Brightstar Lifestyle programme, or to get in touch with someone at Badisa Tygerberg, please contact 021 939 9120 or email reception@badisatygerberg.org.za.
