Thursday, December 22, 2011

December 2011 Update and More!!!

Hello Everybody

I did say that Christmas was around the corner – well, it is now on our doorstep and I can’t believe that another year has gone by so very quickly! My humble apologies for only sending this out now. It has been a tremendously busy month for me working with 16 Days of Activism with Information Empowers, the Zoe Project and other projects, as well as preparing for Christmas. My last event was yesterday, and I am very pleased to say that after hitting ‘send’ on this email, I too shall take a break with my family! J

The past year has been incredibly busy both on the Zoe Project and Information Empowers fronts. We have accomplished so much – and needless to say we have done so with your help and encouragement and continued support.

As a recap, for those of you who don’t know what Information Empowers is all about.

I founded this organisation in 2001. It started as a research project about availability of information regarding child rape, child sexual abuse and molestation. We’ve found that not enough information was available to the people who desperately require it. And if there was information, it was written in academic terms and only accessible through expensive books or other purchase.

I have developed brochures in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa for adults about prevention and reporting child sexual abuse. Along with this, is information on how to teach children and what to say to them regarding this subject.

The C.I.A. Kids’ Workshop is used by victim empowerment groups and has proven to be successful with children as young as 4 years old. This workshop tells children about personal safety, why someone would want to hurt a child in this way, how they could possibly do it – and all of this is written in an age appropriate language and told through stories which do not put fear into children.

I have also written a book called the C.I.A. Children’s Workbook that deals with this subject matter. It is filled with colouring pictures designed by Tracey Fraser and stories that relate to various issues of safety. It has a diary section at the back of the book for those children who like to express themselves through writing or drawing. All of this is there to assist the child in becoming confident, informed and assertive [C.I.A. Kids].

Our work is mainly about prevention of child sexual abuse and education for children and adults.

In addition to the above, one of the most successful documents that we have developed is the Smart Kids' Kit (c) which is an Identity Profiling Kit for children to be used in the unlikely eventuality of your child going missing. We have been distributing these kits since 2008 to anyone and everyone who requires one. It is self-explanatory and easy to use. The advantage is that it also has instructions on getting DNA samples from your child and how to store it. Should you wish a copy, please email me at norah@xsinet.co.za

The Zoe Project is a project, separate from Information Empowers and it is very easy to confuse the two – as we help and assist in some cases, the same people. We work in both cases with safe houses and children’s homes. The networks of professionals who help both the Zoe Project and Information Empowers sometimes overlap.

I felt it necessary to clarify this as it is important to understand that even though we are two entirely different organisations, the work we do sometimes cross over and the people we meet and work with, are sometimes the same groups or organisations – depending on the nature of the assistance given.

Without our contributors, the Zoe Project and Information Empowers would not be able to assist as many people as we do, nor reach the wide group of people that we do.

Thank you to the following:
Arlene Holt, Anna Johansson, Annette Milner, Sandy Schuurmans, Salomy Coetzee, Audrey Hugo, Newlands Lions Group, Bob Harvey, Rotary International, Denise and Willem van Bergen, Pamela Cable, Brenda from Lakeside Mountain Men and Allan Dolby, Miranda Lang, Kerry Moller, Michael P., Theo and Jackie Knoesen, Sharon Wewege, Heather Mylne, Anonymous friends at the New Beginnings clinic in Meadowridge, Ingrid Rix, the Mount Nelson Hotel, Jenni McMinn, Jenni Arendorf from Place of Hope, Barksole Blue Route, SAPS Captain AJ Venter, SAPS Brigadier Hennie Niewhoudt, Ametje Rust and Allison Rulse and the entire team at Syntell Finance in Diep River, Ricki Fransman from Childline Western Cape, SAPS Kirstenhof Trauma Staff, SAPS Diep River Trauma Staff, SAPS Wynberg Trauma Staff, Thersia Du Toit-Smit, and to the other ‘anonymous’ friends who so willingly stick their necks out when the going gets tough…. Thank you to all our contributors. Whether your contribution has been for the Zoe Project or with helping Information Empowers, it has made a difference and it keeps doing so every single day!

There is no such thing as true altruism! We give and say that we don’t want to receive a mention but I endeavour to always mention the names of the people who give and help us. Sometimes, however it isn’t possible to have all the names of every person who gave something, and sometimes there are people who give something every month – and I leave their name off the list. Please accept my apologies for this – it is not intentional – just human error.


What is a Doula?
Doula comes from the Ancient Greek word meaning ‘female slave’. Because of the negative connotations, Greek labour supporters as well as various other global doulas instead call themselves labour companions, labour assistants or birth workers. These are usually mothers assisting new mothers in breastfeeding and newborn care, but it is mostly labour support during child birth. Our doula’s are trained and are there to assist the mothers when they give birth.

Our doulas DO NOT deliver babies as someone suggested this questioningly to me the other day. That is left up to the very well-trained hands of the nursing and medical profession. Our Doula’s are there for emotional support – when things get tough during birth or if the mother is very young and requires counseling immediately after birth. I’ve felt that I’ve had to clarify this as information can often be misread or misrepresented and we do not want to create an impression that our Doula’s deliver babies – they don’t!

Adoptions
We have been instrumental in 6 adoptions this year. From counseling the moms right at the start of their pregnancy through to working with adoption agencies, the babies have been placed in homes where they are loved, looked after and cared for. They are now safely with their adoptive parents, being loved and nurtured like any other child born to a family and given opportunities they would not have had otherwise. We have on-going counseling for the birth mothers and have contact, through the adoption agencies, when required, with the adoptive parents.

Women and young girls counseled this year…
We have counseled approximately 70 women and young girls throughout 2011. Entering counseling takes guts not only because of stigma which is still very much prevalent but because it requires recognition of a problem and it isn’t easy to ask for help. The women and girls counseled have received information about options for the various situations they find themselves in. They have been given the best advice and appropriate alternatives to rash decisions. In addition to this, they have been given information which is vital to making the right decision for that person – irrespective of religion, race, socio-economic demographics or belief. And we have supported them in each one of their individual decision.

Babies born to the clinic
There are on average, 200 babies born each month at Retreat MOU. We have just started working at Hanover Park MOU and I’ll let you know the stats as soon as I have them. We do not care if there are more girls than boys, we do care that each child is given the love and attention that it deserves as well as a fair chance in life and that the moms are supported during this time.

Second hand clothing
During the year we have halted receiving 2nd hand clothing due to various reasons. I have asked a couple of people to deliver to various safe houses and children’s homes themselves. Thank you for doing that! The 2nd hand clothing that was received has been given to those who need it most. People in Masiphumelele have benefited tremendously from this.

Comfort kits for survivors of rape
I have been asking you to put together a comfort kit for the survivors of rape [children and adults] and have been pleasantly surprised with feedback from various trauma counselors who work at SAPS stations who have indicated that the kits received have been welcomed by the victims and have made counseling the victims so much easier. You don’t know what it means to the survivor of a rape to get something like this when they go to report the rape. Thank you!

16 Days of Activism against violence against women and children.
Information Empowers has been very busy during the 16 Days of Activism against violence against women and children, and it has been satisfying for me personally to see that awareness changes attitudes. We have distributed the Smart Kids’ Kits © to so many people and it is a very useful document to use in case your child goes missing. In addition to this, I have attended a number of events creating awareness of child sexual abuse and also educating about prevention.

St George’s Haven – Ametje Rust and Syntell Finance Division
One of the places that I attended was St George’s Haven in Wynberg and this year, with the help of Ametje Rust and her team at Syntell, the 30 girls who live there, aged 3 to 15, and were treated by Syntell. They were given a box each with toiletries and towels, and other amazing goodies, as well as a special item of comfort for each individual girl to suit their age. Ametje is an inspiring woman who has a huge heart, and working with her and her team for the 2nd year now, I have learnt that her enthusiasm about life and her philosophy on giving has definitely rubbed off on each of the members of staff who work with her. Ametje knows and has seen first hand what a difference they’re making. Thank you Ametje!

We were hosted at St Georges Haven by Capt Andre Venter from Wynberg SAPS and the 30 girls performed their art for us – from poetry, to singing and dance, drawings and each one showing us their individual talent. The life skills that these girls have acquired through their various life experiences are things that most adults I know aren’t even aware of exists. They are awesome girls with bright futures ahead of them. Their determination to overcome situations is inspiring.

Graeme Cairns sent feedback that the girls are still talking about their special day with us, and needless to say, we think of each of them often too.

Lakeside Mountain Men – Brenda and Allan Dolby
Brenda contacted me during the year after receiving my newsletter and they have just blown us away with their amazing contribution of baby grows, clothes and items for the mom packs. They have visited the Retreat MOU with Tracey and I just wanted to say thank you to Brenda and the entire team at Lakeside Mountain men who have decided to assist us this year with the Zoe Project.

Beanies, beanies, beanies…..
Thank you for the many beanies we have and are still receiving. We use beanies for the new-born babies. Unfortunately, and also very funnily, we have received beanies that I can wear! What we’ve decided to do with the larger beanies is to give them to amongst other places, a home in Saldanha Bay, CPOA Old Aged Home in Sea Point as well as to children in Masiphumelele. May I respectfully ask that if you want to knit beanies, please ensure that it would fit a new-born baby’s head! [J]

Pass on the emails
Word-of-mouth is our biggest advertisement. Please continue to send the emails out to your friends, and if they would like to be on our list of people, who receive our updates, please email me at norah@xsinet.co.za  and I will add them.

Hanover Park MOU
It is with great excitement that I can report that we are now working at Hanover Park MOU too. It is difficult at times with the gang-violence, but so far we have been safe. We have included Hanover Park MOU in our Annual Special Christmas Babies and Moms’ packs. We have secured 10 mom packs and 10 baby packs for Christmas day, in addition to the 10 that we give to them for the month.

The staff has come back to us to say that they are encouraged to know that so many people care and that we are already making a difference to their work and to the lives of their patients. Bob Harvey through Rotary International donated 2 wheelchairs during the year, one of which has gone to Hanover Park. The other day, an ambulance staff member commented that the wheelchair donated has made such a difference to their work – delivering patients to the clinic from the ambulance as well as being able to do so safer. Thank you so much, Bob and Rotary, we salute you!

Retreat MOU
Again, we have arranged that our Special Christmas Babies each receive a baby and mom’s pack. Tracey arranged a special day for the staff where they were each handed a gift. Thank you Graeme for wrapping each present with such love and precision! They all enjoyed the day and thank you to Yolanda for baking those scrumptious cupcakes for the event.

The Annual Six-a-side Soccer day
This happened in October and not in November as I earlier reported. It was well attended by Zoe Staff as well as teams from the Retreat MOU with their families. The day turned out great. Thank you to Barksole in the Blue Route for giving us 6 medals for the winning team as well as for doing free engraving on the trophies.

Masiphumelele
Regina is doing a wonderful job. Some of the fresh fruit and vegetables that we receive each Friday go to Regina who then distributes it to the children whose families need it most. Along with the second hand clothing, towels and blankets that we receive, we know that each item is given with love and that each family receiving something does so because they are in dire straits. Keep up the good work, Regina!

Old clients
We are happy to say that we are still in contact with most of the women that we have counseled. The mother of Zoe [the girl this project was named after] still has contact with Tracey. She is doing very well and is making a success of her and her daughter’s life. It is a tremendous encouragement to see that people can turn their lives around for the better.

Facebook
We have a facebook page. Please click on the link below and LIKE us if you are on facebook. The more likes, the more people are reached.

Desperately needed for next year
I know this is supposed to be the latest news and update, but I would also like to use this as a reminder of the items that we desperately require for 2012.

Dry Goods Pantry – 2 minute noodles, rice, pasta, tinned food of all kinds, cup-a-soup and powdered milk, coffee, tea and sugar.
Mom packs – sanitary pads, medium sized panties, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, a snack to eat whilst in labour, a small box juice to drink whilst in labour. Please note that the sanitary pads MUST BE MATERNITY PADS. The ordinary sanitary pads are not absorbent enough.
Baby packs – all newborn size and NEW items, please. Baby grows, vests, baby toiletries [not powder or ear buds], receiving blanket, fleecy blanket, booties, knitted jersey and small toy.

Thank you everybody for your messages of support, your emails, your phone calls, the time you have spent helping us to help others. Thank you for each stitch that you’ve knitted, sewn or crocheted, thank you for going to the shops and buying items for our moms and babies, thank you, thank you, thank you!

May your festive season be one where the only regret is that you’ve had too much pudding. May 2012 bring success and love and happiness your way.

Have a wonderful time and we’ll talk again next year.

All my love, as always

Norah Papanicolaou
Information Empowers!
Fighting the war against child sexual abuse because every child matters
http://www.informationempowers.org.za/
and for the Zoe Project

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

October 2011 Update - Zoe Project

Hello Everybody

It has been a very busy couple of months and we are heading into silly season… Christmas is upon us and so are school holidays.
I can’t wait to spend this special time with my family and friends!

Thank you to the following contributors:
Kerry Moller, Pamela Cable, Sandy Schuurmans, Michael P., Salomy Coetzee, Bob Harvey, Nicki, Mia, Sonja Stock and their friends Monique and Sarah-Jane, Brenda and her team from Mountain Men, Hershel School, Annette Muller, Denise and Willem van Bergen, Sharon Wewege, Heather Mylne and our friends at the New Beginnings Clinic, and Ingrid Rix, Bob Harvey, Rotary International and Rene Sale.

Nicki Stock ran a 2-day fun workshop with her daughters, Mia and Sonja and their 2 friends, Monique and Sarah-Jane during the last school holidays. They made one quilt based on the quilts that their grandmother had made for us and for firefighters in the UK. The quilt was given to a young mom who opted to give her baby up for adoption. It was special in that, the girls had put their names and a message of love on the back of the quilt. That baby went to his new home with this quilt and hopefully one day, will know that his entry into life was one of and one of being given better opportunities through the adoption love.



The girls from Herschel School went on a tour of Retreat maternity clinic. They brought with them hand-made blankets, baby shoes and many beautiful items for the mom and baby packs. Tracey spoke at the school informing the girls of the Zoe Project and also about teenage pregnancies. This inspired them to make a special contribution and to visit the clinic. They saw for themselves where the babies are born and how the clinic is run and left knowing more about what the Zoe Project is all about.

Donation of 2 Wheelchairs by Rotary International
Two wheelchairs were donated by Rotary International via Bob Harvey. One each was given to Retreat Maternity and Hanover Park Maternity Clinics. The staff and patients are very grateful for this as it makes giving birth so much easier when you're mobile...



The Zoe Project at Hanover Park

For the last couple of months we have been working with the team at Hanover Park Maternity Clinic. We are fortunate in that we have had our first ‘hand-over’ of mom and baby packs at the clinic. As with Retreat Maternity, our main focus is counseling and we will continue with the ethos of the Zoe Project at both Retreat and Hanover Park Clinics. As can be imagined, we are very excited about this opportunity to help more young moms and families. It is especially difficult working in this area currently due to all the gang-fighting and shootings happening. We trust that our endeavours will be fruitful and help those who most need it.


Second hand clothing and linen items:
The items in the mom and baby packs are only brand new items. As I have mentioned in the past, we work with safe houses and baby houses who help some of our ladies from domestic abusive situations and help with adoptions of our babies. The items of second hand clothing and linen, etc is given to them to help start up these women and children who have nothing when they leave these domestic violent situations. Any 2nd hand and used clothing that we receive, along with bedding, curtains and other linen is therefore given to them.

In addition to this, we have a person working in Masiphumelele, assisting families who have nothing or have lost everything. Some of our items go there too. The need is great. And it is difficult to help absolutely everybody, but we remain focused and ensure that all goods go to those who need it most.

Annual Soccer Day:
For as long as I can remember, the Zoe Project has had a Soccer Day for families and children as a fundraiser. Our soccer day will happen at the end of November and entry is per person or team. The money raised goes to the Zoe Project for shortfall of items we may have during the year. Please contact me should you be interested in entering a team.

16 Days of Activism:
Many of the women we work with are victims of domestic violence. In addition to this, as you know Information Empowers! is my organisation educating and informing adults and children about child sexual abuse. 16 Days of Activism starts on Friday, 25th November 2011 and ends on 10th December which is also international AIDS awareness day. Please look out for events to support during this time.

Comfort Kits for victims of Rape:
Again, I would like to encourage you to prepare [even if it is just one] comfort kit for victims of rape and sexual abuse and hand them to your closest SAPS Trauma room. These kits consisting of deodorant, sanitary pads, panties and underwear [for adults and children], along with toothpaste and a toothbrush and something like a colouringbook and pencils is a great comfort especially for a child who has to go through the secondary trauma of reporting the abuse.

I wish you all well and would like to thank you again for your ongoing support and encouragement.

As always, lots of love
Norah Papanicolaou
http://www.informationempowers.org.za/
and for the Zoe Project

Follow Information Empowers on FACEBOOK today