Non-profit organisation Koleinu SA brought together the community in Sandringham to rally against sexual abuse of children.
The organisation gathered with various partners and community members along George Avenue to open a dialogue about sexual abuse. Founder of Koleinu SA Rozanne Sack said, “Koleinu means ‘our voices’ in Hebrew. We are a helpline, education and advocacy organisation supporting victims in the Jewish community.”
She said that the organisation began to assist and support adult victims within the community and they evolved when they shifted their efforts to support child victims through prevention programmes.
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“The purpose of today is to raise awareness and start a dialogue. A public event like this has never been done in the Jewish community. We want to engage the public and to get participation, to rally people to stand united. Our mantra is ‘If you see something, say something’, don’t keep quiet.”
The gathering had a number of speakers including Luke Lamprecht of Men and Women Against Child Abuse and hostel house mother at Parktown Boys’ High School Mariolette Bossert.
Bossert handed out a poem and open letter written by the mothers of the school to express support for the students who suffered abuse at the hands of former assistant water polo coach Collan Rex.
She said, “This is very important to me because I’ve been very close to the boys. Their families’ lives that been completely messed up… One child is one too many and it all needs to stop.”
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She said that the school, led by new principal Malcolm Williams, is making a change in their system to prevent sexual abuse at their school.
The gathering received a visit and support from Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein who expressed great support for the beginning of the dialogue around sexual abuse and assisting the victims.
Details: https://www.koleinusa.co.za/
