Hello Everybody
My humble apologies for only sending the update now. I’m running a couple of projects at the same time and sometimes it is difficult for me to get to everything at once.
It is July holidays and before we know it, it is Christmas. I hope you have all taken some time to spend with your family.
Thank you to the following contributors:
Arlene J., Dr Lara S., Bronwyn H., Marlene H., Jane and Sebastian D., Nikki A., Sandy S.,
Sharon W., Heather M., Sheena H., Michael P., Anna J., Kirsten H., Annette C-N., Johnathan A., Guy W., Constantia Pharmacy, Sue [New Beginnings Clinic], Julie and Greg B., Samuel G. and Luke C.
Your contributions this month have again proved to me that magical moments and miracles do happen. The amount of clothing and household items that
we have been able to give to the safe houses this month has been great. Funny how I had just enough toys for the children at Place of Hope – there are 32 little children
and we had 34 toys. Each of these children now has something of their own to cuddle and name. I have also appealed to everyone that if they know a plumber or a plumbing company who would assist with fixing the giant leak at Place of Hope in Crawford to give me a call, and I know that somewhere someone will assist us in helping them out.
The food that has gone to the Retreat Maternity Clinic is indeed a blessing. We had a meeting last month and we were told that from the beginning of July 2009
the moms will only be given 1 dry Provita and a cup of soup as the meal for the day by the clinic. They have been given a couple of packets of Oats-so-Easy and a box of Jungle Oats and this must last through the month. This boggles the mind as this is supposed to be sustenance for moms who have given birth as well as the Kangaroo moms who are breastfeeding their babies.
The freezer is in place but at the moment it only holds 40 x 250gram margarine tubs filled with soup. I know that we will get someone to make more soup to be frozen and given to the women.
I would like to thank Guy Wood and the Constantia Pharmacy especially this month, because they have donated some incontinence sheets. The clinic had run out and their delivery wasn’t scheduled until a couple of days later. The nursing staff was assisting moms giving birth and they had nothing to put under the babies when they were born. Guy and his team helped us in giving them a more hygienic entry into life. I think it is wonderful that local businesses are recognizing the need in poorer communities.
Information Day on 13th June 2009
Thank you to those of you who joined us. I know you have all learnt a bit more about the Zoe Project and everything we are involved in – more than I can ever write in an email.
To those who couldn’t make it, here is a little update.
The Zoe Project is growing arms and legs – as with all good things.
Bethany from BABY SAFE told us about the safe for babies. Let me explain. With the magnitude of babies being dumped in bins and toilets and open fields, an engineer in the States came up with the idea of creating a safe place for moms who don’t want their babies, to safely leave the babies. This is not something that is advertised as it is a sensitive issue and we don’t want people to think that this is now a ‘way out’. Baby safe was engineered to work in the following way:
It is located in Fish Hoek and when someone opens the door and places the baby inside the ‘safe’, a sensor goes off which is attached to an alarm system. The alarm system works like the one you have at home. It starts phoning telephone numbers. There are at least 3 people on call at a time and the first call it makes is to a private security company who is there within 3 minutes. So, the baby who has now been abandoned is not alone for longer than 3 minutes.
The other people who are contacted by the ‘sensor’ are emergency care and the counselors who place the baby in emergency foster care or hospital – should there be a need to do so.
This is the most incredible technology I’ve heard of in a long time. There are only 2 baby safes in South Africa. The one in Fish Hoek hasn’t been used yet, but it is there as an alternative option to just dumping your unwanted baby in a field.
Tracey spoke about the wonderful help we’ve received from members of King of Kings Baptist Church. They have undertaken to look after very young moms and their babies, and re-introduce them to the community after they have given birth and in some cases, gone through rehabilitation. It is not easy for us to understand about the difficulties experienced by someone who is in a state of despair. The ladies at the church take the young girls into their care, counsel them and help them find their place in the world again. They are doing a tremendous job and are filling a need where no one else is available to help.
Sister Lynda Smith, Manager of the Retreat MOU spoke about the wonderful support that her staff has received from the Zoe Project personnel - Just making their work so much easier. The gratitude of these women who work so hard and under such difficult situations is over whelming. They shine even under pressure and it is all because of working together with caring people. Without that, the Zoe Project would not be as successful as it is. I would like to add that each of you is helping in this. Please remember this on the days that you’re feeling down or not sure about yourself. You are an incredible support, anonymous though it is, to an incredible bunch of women.
A Radio Station from the United States has come to hear about the Zoe Project. They have contacted us and are interested promoting our cause in the States. The technicalities of this still need to be worked out and it will take a while before anything materializes. But it is great news as the Zoe Project and the work we do is gaining an international name.
I invited an honoured guest, DA ward counselor Denis Joseph joined us at the information day. He has rallied the DA Ladies Alliance to provide soup twice a month to the people who visit the Retreat Maternity clinic. With approximately 450 registrations per month and the additional average of 200 births per month, that is a lot of people to feed. Thank you Denis and Harriet for your sincere interest in the community and wanting to make a difference where you can. The first soup day was Friday, 3rd July and according to Sister Lynda, it went really well.
Our vision…
The ultimate vision and goal of The Zoe Project is to have a safe house and baby house of our own. There are a hand full of baby houses and safe houses in Cape Town. I visit them often and many of them are in a state of disrepair. They all need funding, they all need help. They are all providing an incredible service to humanity and improving the lives of so many people. Our goal is to provide this. And it will happen when the time is ready and everything is in place.
The Zoe Project as an example…
We endeavour to assist other clinics in other areas to do the same work we do at Retreat. This is huge – the main criteria for this working, is that people who are passionate about helping others need to work together. This is the main ingredient of our success so far.
Births at the clinic this month….
There were 214 births at the clinic during June 09. I have been privileged to witness births and I am telling you, it IS a portal for souls to enter this world. Watching a baby being born is a miracle that cannot be compared to anything. The endorphins that pulse through the body of the mother enable them to go through the pain of birth and immediately love that child. That baby crying for the first time is the most beautiful sound in the world.
Information Empowers!
Although Information Empowers! is separate from the Zoe Project, we link in because of the people we help. I am proud to say that Information Empowers has developed workshops about child sexual abuse for children and adults which are currently being used by 3 Victim Empowerment groups in the Western Cape. I have also just finished a workbook that ties in with the workshops and it has proved to be an additional tool in fighting child sexual abuse and helping victims and non-victims become empowered. There are a couple of workshops and workbooks in development at the moment and it is all very exciting knowing that we are helping those who are most vulnerable. Thank you so much to those people who have been supporting me with their encouragement and love.
I hope I haven’t left anything out. I know this has been a very long email filled with news, and I’d like to receive feedback. Anything positive you would like to share with the moms or the staff of the clinic, please email me and I will pass the message on to them.
I would like to leave you with this thought:
Individuals CAN make the difference – even if you think that your little bit is too little: it is helping someone with nothing. You ARE making a difference.
Thank you and lots of love and many blessings
Norah Papanicolaou
For the Zoe Project
Information Empowers!
Because every child matters.
norah@xsinet.co.za
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
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