Abused children receive some furry friends
Teddy bears were put up all around so that the children would feel less frightened.
For more than ten years, the Krugersdorp Lions Club has seen to it that most of the abused children attending court leave with a smile and a friend, despite what they might be going through at home.
According to Peggy du Plooy, coordinator of the Lions’ Teddy Bear Project, the initiative was brought to life approximately 12 years ago when the Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children approached the Lions of Krugersdorp.
“The coordinator back then actually repainted the Children’s Room in court. It was decorated and there were teddy bears put up all round so that the children would feel less frightened,” she said.
She went on to explain that each time a child was interviewed they would have the option of choosing a teddy bear to sit with them. However, when the interview was over and it was time for the children to leave, it would become more and more difficult for them to leave their new furry friend behind.
“That’s when the social workers suggested the children keep the teddy bears and asked us whether we were up for the challenge. Needless to say, we agreed and since then we have knitted and supplied about 50 teddy bears to the Teddy Bear Clinic every month,” Peggy explained.
Since the start of this project, the generosity of the senior citizens from local old age homes has played a big role in the knitting and finishing of the teddy bears. Recently, the Lions Club was fortunate enough to begin receiving teddy bear ‘skins’ from the Eastbourne Lions in the United Kingdom.
Once the ‘skins’ arrive, the senior citizens assist by finishing the teddies. According to Peggy, it’s also a great opportunity for the elderly to give back to the community.
The teddy bears and soft toys are also distributed to the Women and Child Abuse Centre in Krugersdorp as well as to psychiatric hospitals.
“I am honoured to be able to do so much for these abused children. The helping hands of the hard-working senior citizens are also greatly appreciated,” Peggy concluded.
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