Teddy Bear Foundation changed its focus this year
JOBURG – The non-profit organisation had to adapt and assist with Covid-19 and gender-based violence issues.
The Teddy Bear Foundation has had to overcome a number of challenges this year. Donor liaison officer, Dalene Bishop writes:
With sadness we lost two of our dedicated team to Covid-19. However we continue to get up, dress up and show up.
Previously, the police would bring victims to our offices, but on hearing there were women and children who were victims of gender-based violence who were not supported by the police, our leader Shaheda Omar changed the usual protocols.
Our social workers and auxiliary workers went out into the community and accompanied victims to police stations and advocated on their behalf. We also intervened in cases where neighbours heard children crying incessantly behind closed doors. We reached out with statutory workers and law enforcement and escalated it to the highest level.
We also reached out to families whose children committed suicide and where victims were raped. We followed up on medical cases where children with multiple fractures had received treatment and then learnt that other siblings were also victims of abuse. We continued reaching out to distressed children and their families by securing sponsored data and providing online therapy and online music therapy to children.
We developed material on the effects of Covid-19 on children and their families. We provided food parcels to children and their families. This was done during the total lockdown where no support was available to children who would have received a meal at school and been in a position to escape their abusive homes by attending school.
In view of the children suffering from lack of food, our affidavit in the high court was considered by the judge and assisted in reinstating the school nutritional feeding scheme. We also worked as a team to produce masks by soliciting sponsorships of fabric and partnering with others to manufacture them. Families were struggling to put food on the table and masks were unaffordable to many. It is clear that Shaheda was a great example to many others of how we need to reach out. Many other people followed in her footsteps which brought relief to many across our beautiful country.
Food is still in need and we would welcome any donations of non-perishable foods as well as toiletries for our children and their families. With the year ending and in some cases children’s schooling please add us as a beneficiary for the My School/Planet card.
Details: Teddy Bear Foundation www.ttbc.org.za; 011 484 4554.
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