Eden Park resident shares her motherly love to girls
“The foundation is a beacon of hope and inspiration for the young girls, who are provided with basic necessities, such as toiletries to nutritious meals from the soup kitchen.”
Eden Park resident and Girls with Hope Foundation founder Beatrice Dortley initiated a soup kitchen after realising the children’s need for nutritious food, especially after their parents experienced job losses and retrenchments as a result of the pandemic.
The soup kitchen does not only focus on providing children with nutritious food but also educates and inspires young girls.
The foundation started rolling out food on February 1, three days a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
On February 12, Dortley and social workers held a workshop for the youngsters on teenage pregnancy and drug abuse at Opelweg Primary School.
The purpose of the workshop was to motivate children while educating them about various types of abuse. Dortley expressed that she wants children to know that help is always available, adding that even if she cannot personally provide the help she will look for relevant people to help.
“I want children to understand that reporting a case of rape should not be embarrassing, and fearing your abuser is something of the past. I want young girls to understand the importance of girls standing together, holding hands and always being there for each other,” said Dortley.
Having had a tough childhood herself, Dortley who is a single mother to two boys and two young girls, wants children in the community to feel safe and have a joyful childhood.
“I was sexually abused by family friends and my mother feared them because they were gangsters, so she did what she thought was best and kept quiet about it. I had to live with that my whole life until I was diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder.
“I had a tough childhood and it only caught up with me in September 2020 when I had a breakdown and ended up in a hospital. I am currently on medication,” said Dortley.
“I wanted to help prevent other girls from going through what I went through. So I decided to mentor girls between the age of 12 and 16,” she added.
She said she realised that there is a big need for community-development initiatives like this in her community because many people come to her for help.
“I felt for other parents and children who did not have food. I decided to help the children with a meal every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I also started to distribute sanitary pads to young girls because they are highly needed by girls in our community,” she added.
Background
The Girls with Hope Foundation was established by Dortley in 2020 after she was admitted to hospital in September due to depression.
The foundation initially started as a dance group in October to keep the children active and off the streets after school. They then added a soup kitchen.
“I have a 13-year-old girl. She was showing signs of teenage challenges. I thought befriending her and her friends would help to keep them off the street.
“I started guiding and motivating them as we would have sleepovers at my place and we sometimes have a braai or potjiekos. It turned out that I was not only helping my child but I also other children,” she explained.
Fabian Watson, an Eden Park resident, said the community needed this foundation and it came at the right time to guide children.
“The foundation is a beacon of hope and inspiration for the young girls, who are provided with necessities, such as toiletries to nutritious meals from the soup kitchen,” said Watson.
Mission
The Girls with Hope Foundation aims to:
• Keep a girl child in school during menstruation.
• Help girls to feel comfortable, confident, clean and representable.
• Provide nutritional food to the growing number of children who need support.
• Promote education and guiding children in the right direction.
Donations
Dortley is currently unemployed and is running the foundation from the little she has. However, she was in talks with residents who are willing to sponsor the foundation.
She sent her gratitude’s to Hendrik Jacobs, Hamilton Jacobs, Maryldine De Klerk and Gregory Stemmer for their donations.
The founder said there is a demand for the soup kitchen because at times she sees children from other areas like Phola Park, Paravlei and Eden Park Extension One come to the soup kitchen.
“It breaks my heart to send other children home because we do not have enough to cater for everyone. We would highly appreciate any food donations,” said Dortley.
To help the foundation continue with its contribution to changing lives, you can donate food parcels, sanitary pads and toiletries. To donate, contact Dortley on 060 455 9722 or 081 442 2174.
