Imagine feeling like you’ve committed a crime after falling victim to physical, emotional or sexual abuse, and speaking out about it. Now, envision this feeling, but as an eight-year-old. It’s no surprise that the concept won’t sit well with most people.
Why would an eight-year-old feel like a criminal after he or she had been the victim? Matla A Bana project manager, Lizel van Eeden explained why.
“Police officials has had the case of an abused child crying uncontrollably, refusing to enter the Honeydew Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit because for this child it looked like a prison. We came to realise that most children are scared to enter the building because of how it looks,” she said.
When Keller Williams Advance Realty (KWAR) heard about this heart-breaking reality, they knew right away how they would spend their annual day of service, known as Red Day this year. This day is usually dedicated to renewing, energising and donating to local communities.
“We are very passionate about our annual Red Day, which just happens to be a one-day expression of the constant state of the Keller Williams culture. We see a need, discover who can meet it, and get it done,” KWAR Sales Associate, Anouschka Lubbe said.
On Thursday, May 12 KWAR associates and volunteers chose to ‘give where they live’ by transforming the Honeydew FCS Unit into a more child-friendly environment. They painted murals, decluttered and repainted rooms, supplied them with new bedding, and fixed and staged the waiting area and forensic social worker’s office.
In no time the outside of the building was transformed just by adding a little colour. The team of dedicated enthusiasts even managed to pack 150 comfort packs which will be distributed among the Roodepoort Sexual Offences court, Forensic Social Workers and Public Health officers as well as the Honeydew, Carletonville and Krugersdorp FCS Units.
Operating partner of KWAR, Lucinda Liebenberg thanked each volunteer, sponsor and friend who joined in the massive effort to make a change for the better. She went on to say that ‘together we can achieve more’.
“We cannot thank KWAR enough for the support they give us each year by not only upgrading the places they visit but for the massive donations in child care packs, for which unfortunately there is a massive need,” Liezel said.
“Thank you for making a difference, Keller Williams Advance; together with Matla A Bana, we are proof that when people come together, we can make a difference.”
