Packs to comfort those who need it most
The packs are given to girls aged between five and 12 when they report sexual crimes to the police.
In South Africa a child is raped every three minutes. Most of the victims are young girls between the ages of three and 12.
That’s why Matla A Bana, a registered non-profit organisation aimed at helping children who are victims of rape and other forms of abuse, recently hosted another successful Comfort Pack Project.
These projects are hosted on a regular basis in efforts to distribute the comfort packs to police stations all over the country. The packs are given to girls aged between five and 12 when they report sexual crimes to the police.
“We aim to supply 100 packs to each province every month; however, this one was part of our Mandela Day initiatives. The packs will assist the detectives when dealing with victims of abuse,” a very passionate Matla A Bana Project Manager, Lizel van Eeden explained.
Thursday, July 29 was no exception when Matla A Bana packed an astonishing 500 comfort packs with the help of Mosaïek congregation volunteers. These packs were assembled for FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences) Units in the Free State, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
Unit representatives were also in attendance and were very grateful to collect the comfort packs themselves.
The packs include a colouring book, crayons, some yummy treats, toiletries, underwear and a teddy bear.
They were also grateful for a donation of 30 comfort packs the following day from Matla A Bana volunteer, Valma Buitendacht and her friends. These packs were handed over to Magistrate Delize Smith at the Roodepoort Regional Court.
“This project makes a direct impact in an abused child’s life. Thank you to our loyal sponsors Absa Trust, Mosaïek, Buddy Bear, and Valma and her friends (Mariska, Marunique, Sherica, Erika, Anche and Michelle) for believing in our worthy cause. Our partnership with police on a national level ensures the success of our projects,” Lizel concluded.
