Babies Behind Bars and Women Against Women Abuse (WAWA) on Tuesday (25 August) informed members of the community about babies living with their mothers in prisons at the Toekomsrus Community Hall.
Romy Titus, radio and television journalist for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is the founder of Babies Behind Bars which she started eight years ago. This after she had to do a story for SABC on Christmas Day in prison for mothers and babies.
Babies Behind Bars is a Non-Profit Organization which runs in five countries, South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Kenya. The Babies Behind Bars organization look after babies from birth to two years old while they are living with their mothers in prisons across the country.
They do this by providing to all their basic needs on a month-to-month basis. Their vision is to look after every prison born baby on the African continent. The organization supplies the babies in prisons with clothes, food, educational toys, nappies, infant milk formula and much more.
According to Titus,
It’s not just food and products these babies need, it’s also attention and love.”
They recently joined hands with WAWA – a service provider that contributes to the fight against violence against women and children – where they support each other with their different projects.
Other organisations present was Vukane Seniors Daycare, Thysanang Adventures, Department of Social Development and Westview drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre.
Enrico Bhana, a very active member of WAWA, was the programme director and they started the event with an opening prayer.
WAWA’s services they offer the community are:
• Shelter for abused women and children
• Assisting victims of crime and violence
• Paralegal services
• Educational workshops and talks.
• Referals and advice
• A life skill programme
• Outpatient drug and alcohol service
• Rehabilitation programme (Westview Clinic)
If you want to contribute in any way feel free to visit www.babiesbehindbars.org.
