Moms Supporting Moms, a Geduld-based support group in Springs for mothers in need, held their first Women’s Day lunch in supporting various NPOs on August 9 at Cozy Corner in Brakpan.
Every ticket donated a part of the income to the four NPOs at the event. There were also raffles to raise further funds for these organisations.
Belinda Lotriet from Ithemba Hope Centre, a crisis pregnancy centre, spoke about what they do for pregnant women. They provide HIV and pregnancy testing, sonar scans and options for pregnant women in crisis.
They provide women who choose to abort with resources and support without shame, but also counsel them on options they have, such as adoption, being single mothers and becoming self-sustainable.
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Women who want to keep their babies are referred to state clinics for prenatal care, childcare training, food, clothes (which they ‘buy’ with points earned from completing training) and basic business training so they can be entrepreneurs.
This way, women who have an unexpected pregnancy from lack of education or abuse do not have to stay with the fathers out of necessity and endure further abuse.
Riana Botha from the Bejaarde Hulpfonds Stigting provides food, adult diapers and care for pensioners on SASSA pension, who do not have other income and cannot get by.
She told the ladies about how they celebrate holidays with these elderly, and help them pay off debt, manage funeral costs should they pass away, and provide care and support.
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Kerry Wright from Hope, Faith, Grace explained how her NPO deals with disadvantaged youth, such as those who could not complete schooling or grew up in foster care and left without support and resources as soon as they turned 18.
The centre houses youth between 19 and 25 for two years, during which they teach them skills, provide food and opportunities to work and save and how to be self-sufficient adults.
Kerry asked the women in attendance to consider volunteering at the centre to help counsel the youth and equip them with life skills.
There were several speakers like these talking about the work different NPOs do for women and children, while also encouraging and uplifting the women in attendance by sharing testimonies and resources.
