The Randburg-based Hope to Heal Foundation has launched a free magazine publication that is aimed at providing a communication platform for victims of various injustices in the hope that they can find some healing.
Launched at the Pyramid Hotel and Conference in the Joburg CBD, the Hope to Heal magazine will seek to help victims of what the founder and executive director of the foundation and magazine, Seema Naidoo, described as ‘crimes of crisis and circumstances’. These crimes included human trafficking, rape, child abuse, bullying, suicide, teenage pregnancy, domestic violence, mental health, substance abuse, HIV/Aids and other societal ills.
“Its focus will be to educate society while at the same time creating awareness which eventually leads to prevention,” she said.
“We are aware that we will not be able to completely stop these crimes that affect millions of women and children, but we are aiming to reduce it, save as many lives as possible and provide help to people who require to heal and move on with their lives.
“We have far too many gossip magazines on the shelves about the rich and famous, and politicians, yet not enough on crimes of circumstances and crisis. There is a massive increase of these crimes that are affecting millions of people throughout the world and people are left suffering in silence due to stigma, no means of getting help or don’t know how to get help to recover. Hope to Heal Foundation wants to be their voice.”
Sadly, people in underprivileged areas are mostly affected by these crimes and don’t report the incidents because they have lost hope, they feel that the reason for the increase in these crimes is because no one cares, she added.
Naidoo said women and children were affected in horrific ways and survivors ended up living with the pain for the rest of their lives due to the trauma because of lack of support.
“Are we just going to sit back and ignore what’s going on in society, or are we going to stand up and assist the Hope to Heal Foundation and speak out against these horrific crimes we are faced within society? Everyone deserves the right to freedom of life, free from abuse and violence.”
She said her foundation encouraged survivors to get help and recover so they could move on with their lives and did not become prisoners of these crimes. “The articles in the magazine will be real uncut stories from survivors or family members who are or were affected by these crimes, in the hope that these stories will uplift those who are facing similar difficulties, because we want the victims to speak out and break the silence.”
Professionals such as doctors, life coaches, attorneys, physiologists and others will provide input in the magazine which will be published on a quarterly basis and distributed nationally at outlets such as clinics, courts, hospitals, airports and schools.
A lack of funds has led to the magazine currently being only available on a digital platform at www.hopetoheal.org.za
Naidoo said they were pinning their hopes on selling advertising space as a source of funding. “We welcome anyone willing to join hands with us through our many initiatives that serve the community.”
Details: Seema Naidoo 078 906 7461; www.hopetoheal.org.za
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