Special victims get cookies for Christmas
"When an investigating officer investigates a case, the victim becomes part of his or her life, not only for the duration of the case, but also for the future."
The West Rand Cluster’s Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) kicked off its 16 Days of Activism against women and child abuse campaign on Thursday, 23 November.
“During the 16 Days of Activism campaign, we and various community stakeholders commit ourselves to making everyone aware of the seriousness of crimes against women and children,” said Captain Paula Terblanche, the FCS West Rand project manager.
Photo: Bianca Pindral
The unit was visited by a group of young entrepreneurs who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of abused women and children. The group of men and women donated a number of boxes, some containing tins of biscuits in addition to other items, that will be given to victims of abuse.
Captain Terblanche also launched a Christmas project that will specifically target women and children who were victims of crime during the past year. The FCS investigators, as well as other members of the Unit, will visit each and every victim during December to personally deliver the lovely cookie tins and hampers and bring the victims some Christmas cheer
Photo: Bianca Pindral
“Each year, at Christmas, we reach out to as many of the victims we dealt with during the year as we can, and the donors have given their full support to this project. Part of the project consists of filling coffee tins with special treats for Christmas. We all drink coffee and have coffee tins in our homes. All we ask is that you decorate them, and fill them with biscuits. We can then give them to our victims. “When an investigating officer investigates a case, the victim becomes part of his or her life, not only for the duration of the case, but also for the future. The investigating officers build relationships with their victims and support them during the whole court case. We laugh together, cry together, and get angry together. We find that we really get into the children’s whole lives and minds.”Helen Fuller wished the FCS well in their endeavours to make a difference in the lives of victims on behalf of the group of donors.
“Thank you for the way in which you support victims of abuse. It does not go unnoticed. Your efforts are appreciated,” she said.
The Christmas project will run until 25 December.
Captain Terblanche thanked the group of goodhearted donors for their assistance in making the FCS Christmas project a reality.
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