THE
HELENA LUFUMA CASE
By Helena Lufuma, refugee
mother of four from
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Are children commodities? the
sign asks.
From Helena Lufuma's
demonstration at
Why did the Swedish Social Services separate me from my
children?
My name is Helena Lufuma.
I came to
Background
The whole thing started
when I visited the social welfare office on
I thought that maybe the
help that I could get would be to place my children in a foster home for a
month or two until I got on my feet again and was more organized. I thought
that maybe they could help me with some kind of guidance and parental advice.
But instead quick
decisions, short-term solutions were made and they talked me into placing my
children in different homes. I wasn’t for the idea of having my children placed
in different homes; I wanted help in my own home. The situation resulted in my
case being taken to court and I lost custody of my children.
"Why are so many
children being taken from their parents??
Is it because of a collision of cultures, flaws in the law or those exercising
office???
My opinion is that the
court made the wrong decisions. In the investigation there were several points
missing:
1 - the
children's behaviour and if unsatisfactory how they could be corrected.
2 - my
capacity and possibility of taking care of my children.
At the same time the
social authorities contacted a private child care company that was supposed to
help with the placement of my children in a foster home. I didn't want my
children to be put into a foster home, but my opinion was ignored. I wanted to
have an African guidance assistant who could easily identify with me and my
situation, but I was told that this wasn't possible and that I wasn't allowed
to choose the members at the meetings and that it was no need for an African
child guidance consultant.
"Stop the dictatorial
bureaucrats in the social services".
Helena Lufuma's
demonstration at
After awhile in a
temporary foster family, my children were forced to move to the home of one of
the swedish child guidance
consultants, this having taken place without my knowledge. It was after my
children had been moved from their foster homes that I was notified. The social
authorities had not made an official decision. When I found out I was upset and
I contacted the Ombudsman and requested that he look into the matter. The
Ombudsman later told me that the social authorities had committed a breach of
duty.
The social authorities
have never given me the advice, directions, therapy or help that they said I
needed for being able to return to my role as a good mother. Plans for
reuniting me with my children have never been made or drawn up.
My children have instead been forced to move
to new homes10 times in three years, and to change school several times. In one
of the foster homes my children were not allowed to use their mother tongue
when talking to each other. I have asked to be reunited and placed with my
children in a neutral place, a place that would be good for all of us, where we
can get the help we need and repair the pain and suffering that was caused when
my children were taken away from me. But this suggestion is still not accepted
by the "Söderleds Stadsdelsnämnd".
"Why
are the social services breaking up my family???"
"Why do the social services boycott my children's sibling
relationship?"
The people in charge of my
case were replaced by new staff several times, without my knowledge, and many
new decisions have been made without me knowing and this has come to my
attention months later.
I have been denied the
right to read my case journal by the "Söderleds Stadsdelsförvaltning" even thought I have made this
request several times.
My children have been
turned against me through bribes. Instead of returning my children to me the
social authorities gave them extra pocket money, nice clothes and expensive
things that they knew I couldn't afford, and I believe this was done to keep
them away from me. The monthly allowance that I can offer my children is far
less than the weekly allowance they receive.
"The
social services ill-treated me and my children. Then they called our reactions
mental disorders"
My values and my attitude
as a mother and my opinion concerning how my children should be brought up do not
seem to have any relevance in the social authorities' eyes. They have given the
children an environment where they can do what they want, sleep where they
want, come home when they feel like it.
As a mother I have never
wanted my children to be brought up without taking responsibilities in life.
"Söderled's
Social Service Army should be disarmed"
The staff at the Social Services
is trying to take my life through psychic outrage.
Söderled's Social Service Army should be disarmed.
The photos above are from
my demonstration at
Do you want to support me?
I am fighting for reunion of my family.
Please send your support
to:
Helena Lufuma, Pepparvägen 9.1tr, 12356 Farsta, Sweden
You can mail to: fightingmother@hotmail.com
or
helena.lufuma@kurir.net
Thank you!
The Edner Case
By Ruby Harrold-Claesson