Matla A Bana, a registered non-profit organisation aimed at helping children who are victims of rape and other forms of abuse, is again hosting their annual Comfort Pack Project.
These comfort packs are given to girls aged between five and 12 when they report sexual crimes to the police. According to Project Manager, Lizel van Eeden, they aim to supply 100 packs to each province every month.
So far Matla A Bana Gauteng, with the help of the Mosaïek congregation volunteers have managed to pack around 500 comfort packs for the Gauteng province Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Units.
“These packs will assist the detectives when dealing with abused victims. A total of 16 units were in attendance and already collected the comfort packs themselves,” Lizel explained.
They are also thrilled to have received a generous donation of teddies from Buddy Bear – an NGO that aims to give a hug when little ones are hurt.
With only a few days left to Mandela Day, they encourage the community to participate in their project of assembling as many comfort packs as possible.
If you would like to contribute to the project, this is their needs list:
• Small girls:
– Brown paper bag with string handles (They start by doing drawings on the back with crayons)
– Put a sticker on the right-hand corner of the bag
– Thin colouring book
– Crayons
– Small juice box
– Energy bar
– Packet of cookies
– Small packet Cup a Soup
Add to plastic bag and tie once all items are inside:
– Face cloth
– Panties (5–6 years)
– Soap
– Panties (7–8 years. Split the two items on the packing line to avoid confusion)
Add to plastic bag and tie once all items are inside:
– Tissues
– Toothpaste
– Toothbrush
Add to bag:
– Teddy bear
– Survival guide
– Personal letter with message of encouragement
• Medium girls:
– Brown paper bag with string handles (They start by doing drawings on the back with crayons)
– Put a sticker on the right hand corner of the bag
– Thin colouring book
– Pen
– Small juice box
– Energy bar
– Packet of cookies
– Small packet Cup a Soup
Add to plastic bag and tie once all items are inside:
– Face cloth
– Panties (9–10 years)
– Soap
– Panties (11–12 years. Split the two items on the packing line to avoid confusion)
– Sanitary towels x2
Add to plastic bag and tie once all items are inside:
– Tissues
– Toothpaste
– Toothbrush
Add to bag:
– Small roll-on
– Teddy bear (10cm size)
– Survival guide
– Personal letter with message of encouragement
Above items can be donated individually or as ready-made comfort packs.
“This project makes a direct impact on an abused child’s life. Thank you to our loyal sponsors Absa Trust, Mosaïek, Buddy Bear and the community for believing in our worthy cause. Our partnership with police on national level ensures the success of our initiatives,” Lizel concluded.
Interested members of the community are also welcome to donate R200 towards a pack, or collect items needed for the packs. For more information, feel free to visit their web page, https://matlaabana.co.za/ or contact Lizel on 073 171 1031.
