Burn survivor heroes
AUCKLAND PARK – Children of Fire aims to treat child burn victims and raise awareness on how to prevent fires in informal settlements.
The Children of Fire Trust was established in 1996 after founder and current director Bronwen Jones realised the desperate need for an organisation that could assist young South African burn survivors.
Over the years, with the involvement of their sister charities, the trust has helped more than 480 child burn survivors from across Africa receive the best surgery and care available. They soon realised that the social and economic challenges of South Africa contributed highly to the incidence of burns among children, so the organisation began to focus on educating informal settlement communities on ways to prevent fires.
Children of Fire manager trainee Ellie Ndlovu said next year the organisation hoped to run an international architectural competition to design a sub-Saharan paediatric burns hospital and keloid (overgrowth of scar tissue) referral centre to be built in Botswana.
“We are happy that one of the younger children got a successful finger transplant in the United Kingdom, a surgery she would have never had in South Africa,” said Ndlovu.
“So many of our children have had the chance to travel during the year and that changes their perspective on the world. It makes them rounded people with compassion and an interest in others.”
Ndlovu added that many people had assisted the organisation during the year. “We are most grateful to surgeons Baljit Dheansa, Asit Khandwala, Nebil Lahouel and more. We appreciate the continuing efforts of Mitta Lebaka, Wendy Ntswane and, most particularly, our founder Bronwen Jones who never has even one day off.”
The organisation’s wish for the festive season is for the public to buy raffle tickets at R20 each for their Children of Fire Survival fundraiser. There are great prizes to look forward to such as a solar geyser and a large flat screen television.
“We also need money for basics like electricity, water, gas and rates and maintenance is in short supply. On Christmas Day we will be in our closest squatter camp, as every year, taking a present for every child. If the public wants to donate used school bags in good condition for that purpose, they would be happily accepted.”
Details: Children of Fire 011 726 6529; firechildren@icon.co.za
