Life Link Pregnancy Crisis Centre reflects on 2023
Rushton said in the challenging economic environment in which we find ourselves, many women are struggling to provide for their babies.
Life Link Pregnancy Crisis Centre has been providing positive alternatives to abortion and alternatives to abandonment and aims to do more.
“The importance of what we do as an organisation was highlighted this year when a baby was found in a rubbish dump, wrapped in a plastic bag, covered in maggots, and suffering from hypothermia,” said founder and director of Life Link Pregnancy Crisis Centre, Sharon Rushton
“After being found, they took him to the hospital for treatment and then placed him in our care.
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“A few months ago, this little one was placed in his forever family after being adopted. From being unsafely abandoned to being placed in a family that dotes on his success,” she said.
Rushton said in the challenging economic environment in which we find ourselves, many women are struggling to provide for their babies.
“We are currently supporting 215 single moms on our support programme. This has become increasingly difficult for us, as we received fewer donations last year to hand out toiletries and nappies.”
Rushton said she also had to deal with the Department of Social Development deeming Baby Saver Boxes illegal and the consequences of this decision, our shelter, however, is still operational.
She stated the organisation supported 215 moms.
“Two of our moms enrolled in a course to become caregivers and now work at a local retirement village and seven of our single moms started informal businesses after attending our Job Link programme.”
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Life Link Pregnancy Crisis Centre was established in 2001 to provide positive alternatives to abortion. As the rate of child abandonment increased, it was decided to open a baby shelter for abandoned babies.
Jeremiah’s Hope, a project of Life Link Pregnancy Crisis Centre, was started in 2021.
She said the inspiration behind establishing the organisation was when she was still at school.
“A teacher showed us pictures of aborted babies. This was before the legalisation of abortion in South Africa in 1997. It had a huge impact on me. It was there when the seed for Life Link Pregnancy Crisis Centre was planted.”
Rushton said she has seen a lot of troubles many women face in raising their children, including poverty, lack of support, GBV; insecurity, and joblessness. It gives her great pleasure to see these women experience hope after visiting our centre.
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“Besides running the organisation, I am a pastor and also run a support group for parents with children who have Down syndrome. I help my son, who has Down syndrome, to run a small business and I am an aspiring artist,” she said.
“In 2024, I look forward to continued support from the community and for new donors and supporters to come on board. I am also looking forward to seeing clients’ lives changed and babies’ lives saved.”
