Matla-a-bana (MAB), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that serves as a voice against child abuse needs your assistance so that they can carry on doing their job.
Lizel van Eeden, project manager for Gauteng, said their biggest need currently is small teddy bears that they use in comfort packs.
The comfort packs are given to child rape victims by police officers when they report the crimes committed against them.
The packs contain comfort and emergency goods needed during the first hours of reporting a crime. According to Eeden, the packs also assist the police to establish a relationship of trust with the child.
Eeden highlighted that in most cases it can take up to 12 hours for a child victim of rape case to be processed, from statement taking to the medical examination. She said during that time the child often does not eat, drink or has other support.
MAB, together with the adoptive groups, sponsors and in partnership with other NGOs, have been supplying comfort packs on a national level.
Some of the things on their wish list that will help them make comfort packs are:
- Teddy bears (small and medium)
- Colouring books and crayons
- Deodorants
- Snacks (Juice, biscuits, energy bar)
- Comfort Pack (emergency packs) content
- Baby (0–1)
- Two disposable nappies
- 1 Small container formula
- Baby bottle
- Dummy
- Soft toy
- Face cloth/soap
- Baby cereal
- Brown bag
Small (4–8) Girls
- two pairs panties (4–6 and 7–8)
- Face cloth
- Face soap
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Small tissue pack
- Soft toy
- Bubbles
- Colouring book
- Crayons
- Juice
- Energy bar
- Biscuits
- Sachet soup
- Label
- Two plastic bags
- One brown/white carry bag
Small (4–8) Boys
- Two pairs underpants (4–6) and (7–8)
- Face cloth
- Soap
- Small tissue pack
- Soft toy (20 cms)
- Colouring book
- Crayons
- Bubbles
- Juice
- Energy bar
- Biscuits
- Sachet soup
- Label
- Two plastic bags
- One brown/white carry bag
- Please pack toiletries in one of the plastic bags.
- Please pack food goods in the second plastic bag.
- Please pack all the goodies in a brown paper carrier bag.
Comfort snack pack
- Juice
- Small biscuits/packet crisps
- Energy bar/sweet
- Sachet soup
Toddler (2–3)
- Two disposable nappies
- Face cloth
- Baby soap
- Small tissue pack
- Soft toy
- Bubbles
- Sachet soup
- Juice
- Biscuits
- Label
- Plastic bag (soap, face cloth)
- Brown bag
Medium (9–12) Girls
- Two pairs panties (8–10) and (11–12)
- Two sanitary towels
- Face cloth
- Face soap
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- (Spray) Deodorant
- Small tissue pack
- Soft toy (small)
- Notebook and pencil
- Juice
- energy bar
- Biscuits
- Sachet soup
- Label
- Two plastic bags
- One brown/white carry bag
Medium (9–12) Boys
- Two pairs underpants (9–10) and (11–12)
- Face cloth
- Soap
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Small tissue pack
- Ball
- Notebook and pencil
- Juice
- Energy bar
- Biscuits
- Sachet soup
- Label
- Two plastic bags
- One brown/white carry bag
Details: Lizel Van Eeden: matla@mweb.co.za
