Hello Everybody
I hope you’ve all enjoyed a little break over the school holidays. Having the children at home for three weeks was not enough for me – I always think it is so unfair to send the children back to school when we’ve spent such beautiful time together.
A huge thank you to the following contributors:
Arlene J., Dr Lara S., Bronwyn H., Marlene H., Jane and Sebastian D., Tara and Dave D., Jo D., Lorette G., Nikki A., Sandy S.,Sharon W., Heather M., Sheena and Roly H., Meg and Luke C., Sean and Tracey F., Rene and Samuel G., Luc Michot C., Donna C., Michael P., Kirsten H., Annette C-N., Johnathan A., Jo A., Antoinette D., Melica M., Gary, Andre and Becky B., Leigh-Anne G., Brent G., Amy and Andre B., Albert B., Joan R., Val D., Ann R., Geoff H., Lynn M., Alison T., Linda M., Liz B., Ronnie and Vanessa W., Thabane K., Dorreen and Jackie from Ferndale Nurseries, Mica on Kendal Road and Tony M.
The past month has been a very busy one. The contributions for the Retreat Maternity Unit have been tremendous. The dry-goods pantry has been filled once again for the month by YOU GUYS. The fact that the food being supplied by government has been diminished to a dry provita and a cup of soup a day has not demoralised the nursing staff at the centre, because they know that the food we supply is enough for the mothers who go there to give birth and for those who stay as Kangaroo moms. The nursing staff feel that when they feed the patients who have had nothing to eat that they can supply a much better health care service once they’ve fed them. The care they feel for the patients who come to the centre is tangible.
It is always tremendous to hand out the baby and mom packs to those women who have nothing! I thank you for the care you’ve taken in selecting each item for these women and their precious little babies. Dignity is the last thing that can be taken away from anyone, and the joy and absolute gratitude that they have when they dress their little bundle in these items, is overwhelming.
I would also like to especially thank Mrs. Liz Brunette who is the chair of the Constantia Hills Residents Association. She contacted me on 16th July to enquire whether I knew of a place where the residents of Constantia Hills could go to spend 67 Minutes on Mandela Day. Well, she very quickly organized a group of people to assist in the day and to contribute things to make Place of Hope in Crawford, a better place.
The residents [named amongst the names above] came through and they cleaned the cr̬che, painted the kitchen cupboards and planted a vegetable garden Р2, in fact. A large number of bedding [duvets and covers] and other small household items, clothing for the 30 women and 34 children who live there were supplied and the residents of Place of Hope were very grateful for this.
It is not said lightly when I say that I do see little miracles happen every day!
Births at the Clinic
There were 211 births at the clinic in July 2009; each child precious and beautiful and with a purpose in life.
Information Empowers!
We are moving forward in leaps and bounds and the message against child sexual abuse is spreading. The workshops that have been developed are helping children become empowered and learn more. The workbook [C.I.A. Kids’ Workbook] is not only a book for children to learn about safety, but it is also being used as a tool for facilitators to assist the children using it.
Disclosure of child sexual abuse is not easy and the workshops are opportunities for children to disclose safely and with trained people.
August is women’s month and another workshop by Information Empowers! will be presented at a workshop for women. We are privileged that victim empowerment groups are learning more about our workshops and that news is spreading.
FCS - Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units
I received the following email from MP Debbie Schaffer and it is with great happiness that I share it with you that these specialized units are being reinstated throughout the country.
The Child Protection Units [CPU] were disbanded in 2006 and moved out to the local police stations. This caused them to become ineffective. The return of the FCS Units is something many South Africans have fought for and it is now happening.
Newly appointed National Commissioner of Police, Bheki Cele, stated on the Redi Direko Show on Monday that his strategy will be to empower these specialised units once again and ensure that they work closely with communities. We wait and pray that this is the strategy and that it will be enforced.
STATEMENT BY DEBBIE SCHAFER, MP
DA DEPUTY SHADOW MINISTER OF POLICE
Return of specialised FCS units is well overdue
Release, immediate: Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Democratic Alliance (DA) applauds today’s announcement that Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units will be reintroduced. The DA has repeatedly, since 2006, advocated the reintroduction of FCS units, even while the ANC has set about centralising the entire Police Service, and disbanding specialised and semi-autonomous units. These specialised units are central to our safety and security policy framework, and their return is well overdue.
Spread the word and keep the message going…
Thank you to those who have already sent these updates on to colleagues and friends. This is how things happen! Incredible, caring people who want to make a change in the lives of ordinary South Africans can and have made a difference already – just by sending it on. You never know if a friend of a friend is in a position to do something to help.
I leave you with this quote which I absolutely love…
In answering the question: “What is my obligation to the world?” CG Jung said:
“We owe ethical behaviour so that we may live in a society which supports each person’s possibilities. And we owe the world the contribution of our best selves. It is in our uniqueness, our special talent or capacity or calling that we add to the richness of the world.”
Please contact me with feedback or suggestions.
Enjoy the month and stay warm.
Lots of love
Norah Papanicolaou
Founder
Information Empowers!
because every child matters
and
for The Zoe Project
norah@xsinet.co.za
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
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