Impilo overcomes challenges for 22 years in helping needy babies
For over 22 years, Impilo has been at the forefront of saving abandoned infants and empowering young mothers, many of whom are victims of GBV.
It’s a scene forever etched into Sue Krawitz’s memory – a helpless, abandoned baby left with no one to turn to.
For Krawitz, this wasn’t just another story. It was a call to action.
Krawitz and her co-founder established the Impilo Child Protection and Adoption Services, which would grow into a beacon of hope for the most vulnerable children and young mothers.
Based in Sandringham, Fairvale Ext, the NPO has serviced its communities for 22 years despite several challenges.
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Krawitz and Arlene Zlotnick, the fundraiser and social media co-ordinator, shared Impilo’s efforts to protect children and support mothers facing crisis pregnancies.
They operate from a central office in Sandringham, where they manage a nursery and place of safety for abandoned infants.
Presently, they care for six babies, newborns to 14 months old, at their facility. However, with the increasing number of abandoned babies, Impilo collaborates with other organisations to provide shelter and care.
“There are two types of abandonment, hard and soft. Hard abandonment occurs when babies are left in unsafe places like waste dumps or plastic bags, with little chance of survival.
“With soft abandonment, mothers might leave their babies where they know someone will find them, like at a taxi rank,” explained Zlotnick.
To combat this crisis, Impilo supports using baby savers in designated and safe locations where mothers can leave their babies anonymously and ensure they are quickly rescued.
A recent legal victory has protected the use of baby savers, which Zlotnick said is critical for saving lives.
“We prefer you put your baby in a baby saver, where we know someone will get to them within two minutes, and the baby is safe.
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“If you abandon your baby in a dustbin, plastic bag or dump, we are not sure of how long the baby is going to survive,” said Zlotnick.
“With hard abandonment, it is difficult for us to find the parents. For us, we’re not interested in having you arrested or punished.
“The priority for us is why did you abandon your baby? There’s a reason. No mother ever wants to abandon their baby,” she added.
According to Zlotnick, children are usually abandoned because of GBV.
“We want to understand why the mother abandoned her baby, help her heal and support her in caring for the child, if possible.
“At times, it is because the mother was raped and thought at first she could handle it and went through the pregnancy.
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“The baby arrives, and she becomes triggered – that’s when she realises she hasn’t healed.”
She added that as they wait for the abandoned children stats to be updated, most cases go unreported because many of these children are found dead, therefore going unreported.
Impilo launched its Abandoned Baby Rescue Kit last year in response to the rising number of abandoned babies.
“The kit includes essentials like an umbilical clamp, clothes and hydration supplies for first responders.
It also contains instructions on what to do, photographs to take and information to collect to help locate the mother, not for prosecution, but to offer counselling and support,” said Krawitz.
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Impilo is also launching new community programmes in Alexandra to help pregnant schoolgirls, many of whom are GBV survivors.
“We want these young women to know they are not alone. Impilo offers a full spectrum of support and guidance through pregnancy, counselling, education assistance and even skill-building opportunities to empower mothers to be self-sufficient,” shared Krawitz.
With limited funding from the Department of Social Development, the NPO relies on community partnerships to extend its reach. Collaborations with grassroots NPOs and companies provide essential services like parenting skills, business training, and career development.
“Our goal is to ensure these young mothers finish their education and are equipped to support themselves and their children.
“We are dedicated to holistic care and empowerment and have saved countless lives and given vulnerable children and mothers a chance at a brighter future,” they both shared.
They urge the community and businesses to support their essential work and the markets where they raise funds.
They will host a market from 09:00 to 13:00 on 20 Leigh Avenue, Fairvale Ext, on March 2.
For enquiries or to support Impilo, call 011 640 1343, or visit www.impilo.org.za or other social media platforms.
