GLENWOOD High School’s community spirit showed its caring side recently as it supported the Jes Foord Handbag Project.
Glenwood took on the Jes Foord Handbag Project as part of August women’s month celebrations. Jes’s initiative was to celebrate 60 years of women’s month, packing 60 bags per day for 31 days which would help 1860 survivors. The Glenwood boys and their parents collected more than 100 packed bags. The bags were handed to Jes at an assembly.
Durbanite Jes Foord became a heroine to many South Africans when she showed courage and selflessness by establishing The Jes Foord Foundation (JFF), following her traumatic rape by four men in 2008.
The Handbag Project is an initiative where new or used handbags are donated, containing items that can assist a rape victim during the initial reporting process at the police station. These include items such as a facecloth, soap, deodorant spray, new underwear, etc. Typically, any item of clothing with forensic evidence on it must be taken from the rape victim, at a time she already feels so vulnerable. She is required to undergo physical examination before being allowed to shower. A handbag with ‘comfort’ items in it can go a long way in helping the victim feel a little better. The most important item in the bag however, is a letter with a few words of encouragement to restore some hope to the victim during this traumatic time. “It can be a few words or an essay but something from your heart,” she said.
“When you are at your lowest, just receiving the bag with all the goodies can give you hope, and is a fundamental step in recovery,” she said.
