The Zoe Project Update May - June 2011

Hi Everybody

Since my last newsletter, much has happened on the Zoe Project.

I would like to start off by saying that we have completed our Section 21 registration forms and await our registration number!

We have had our first executive meeting and our members and executive team are:
Tracey Aitken, Norah Papanicolaou, Marian Clemitson, Claire Adams and members are Penny Beer, Yolanda Parry, Pam Cuff, Charles Daniels and June Leonard.

We will continue to fulfill the vision and goals of the Zoe Project as before and I trust with all the documentation and duties in place will be more effective.

Thank you to the following contributors:

Arlene Johansson, Nicki Stock, Mary Johnson, Sharon Wewege, Heather Mylne, Michael P., Anna Johansson, Willem and Denise van Bergen, Annette Milner, Heather Booysen and the pupils from the Claddagh dance studio, Christel Swart, and our many anonymous friends from the New Beginnings Baby Clinic in Meadowridge.

Babies born in April

Girls 111 and boys, 75. There were 16 babies born to moms who are 18 years old and under.

Products for the mom and baby packs

We are in desperate need of all the items for mom packs and for the baby packs we just don’t have any baby grows, vests or receiving blankets. These items make up the 20 of each mom and baby packs that we have committed to give at the clinic each month. Our mom and baby packs go only to the most needy moms.

Products for the pantry

We are still receiving out 40 punnets of soup each month and we continue to buy bread, jam and peanut butter to fill the fresh items. We have only received a small amount of dry goods [2minute noodles, soups, pasta and rice and tinned food] and these items were used within the first week of delivery. We desperately would like to continue with our dry goods pantry, but can only do so with your continued support.

Desperate Appeal

The house of 2 children and their parents burnt down last week. They are situated in Hout Bay and attend a local primary school in the Southern Suburbs. They lost everything and I’m assisting the school where they attend in attaining clothing, bedding and shoes for all 4 people of this family. The most desperate items required are materials for a roof over their heads. I would like to ask if anyone out there can help with rebuilding these people’s lives. Please contact me at email address to discuss how you can help.

We need the following building materials:
Zinc 10” [any quantity – no amount is too little]
Door frames x 3
Door handles x 3
Any other items required with which to build a house
I also have a list of clothing and shoe sizes – please let me know if you’d like a copy.

I hope to hear from all of you soon and I wish you much love

As always

Norah Papanicolaou

The Zoe Project Update January 2011

Hello Everybody

What a wonderful break December has been! It was time to reconnect with family and friends and find time for ourselves.


Every New Year signifies new beginnings but unlike resolutions that are fleeting and impulsive, fresh ideas are inspired, planned and organised; hopefully to come into fruition with hard work and co-operation.

It is in the follow-through and committing to these plans and projects that we find success.

I hope you’ve all had a wonderful break and thank you to those who have replied during December and to my earlier email this week.

Things have been a little slow during the last two months in terms of contributors. Many people have emailed and phoned offering assistance to help but as I said earlier, it is in the commitment and follow-through that we see the plans realized.

I am positive about 2011 and realize that many people are still trying to get into the swing of new schedules [as I am] but believe that our contributors’ list will grow in order for us to assist those who are in dire need.

Thank you to the following contributors:
Arlene Johansson, Dr Lara Smith, Jane and Sebastian Dunn, Donna C., Sandy Schuurman, Rene Grimmbacher, Michael P., Sevi Avondo, Anna Johansson, Lesley Edkins, Willem and Denise van Bergen and our anonymous friends at Monterey Pre-Primary School.

A very special thank you to Sharon Wewege and Heather Mylne from the New Beginnings Baby Clinic, Meadowridge…
I received a phone call in December from Sharon to ask if I would give a talk at their Christmas lunch organised for approximately 40 new moms. When I agreed and arrived at the clinic, I was really overwhelmed by what these two women had organised. They arranged a lunch with a talk for these new moms and asked them to contribute to the Zoe Project’s mom and baby packs and dry goods pantry instead of buying one another gifts.

In addition to this, they could also donate money that would be used to buy a wheelchair for a very special 20 month old boy with severe health difficulties. Thankfully and wonderfully, the wheelchair was bought the following week [cost is approximately R20 000]! Wow, Sharon and Heather! The two of you are amazing and will be so blessed.

The Zoe Project received beautiful items of clothing and nappies for the baby packs and products for the mom packs, and tinned food items for the dry goods pantry.

Thank you for your continued support, your kindness and encouragement and your generosity of spirit.

Another very special thank you to Ametjie Rust and the Finance Department of Syntell (Pty) Ltd: Ametje Rust and her team members, Karen Davies, Janine Laubscher, Tanya Gonsalves, Thabisa Mendes, Kevin Eddy, Trichelle Green-Thompson, Deidre Claasen, Samantha Henson, Jamiela Abdulahman, Natalie Heuvel, Bridget Johnson, Kashiefa Solomons, Abigail Richards, Denise Kruger, Nolene Williams, Deshni Naidoo, Nzwakhele Mkhize, and Allison Rulse.

Allison called me in August to arrange something special for their team building event. They decided to contribute mom and baby packs for the Zoe Project’s Christmas Day babies.

To say that I was overwhelmed when I collected 24 x A4 paper BOXES of brand new, beautiful, carefully considered and packed and wrapped boxes from them, would be an understatement. I was in tears!

Thank you, thank you and thank you again – you made Christmas [and New Years Day] moms and babies feel very appreciated and loved.

I know through talking to Allison Rulse who co-ordinated everything, that each team member mentioned above was equally touched by knowing that these items would go to those who need it so badly. We wish you and your team success in your endeavours and know that you’ve been blessed by this experience too.

I have a couple of photographs that I will put on the blog where we have permission from the moms to publish them. It isn’t always easy or permitted to publish photos of moms and babies due to privacy issues.

And another very special to Rotary International and to Bob Harvey :

Thank you for arranging for the 5000 sterile wipes for the Clinic and the 4 large boxes of toys donated from overseas for the babies. The toys have brightened up many little lives and we wish you to thank  your contributors. The sterila wipes have made work at the clinic for the staff so much easier.

Email updates:
I have requested before that you should let me know if you would like to continue receiving our email updates. Please let me know as I have only heard from a few people. If you do not respond, I will keep you on the mailing list.
Also, please continue to forward these updates to your friends and family and colleagues. It helps in many ways!

The year ahead for us in short:
Counseling and the most important functions of the Zoe Project will continue as always.

We are going to concentrate on the mom and baby packs and the dry goods pantry. We would love to be able to give more mom and baby packs to more people but we can only do that if we have enough donations.

We are trying to add to the food that the government allows for moms who give birth at the clinic. The food provided for by the state is ONE DRY PROVITA AND A CUP OF SOUP PER DAY! That is the only meal. And as many of you know, this is not enough nourishment for a new mom who is breastfeeding a baby.

Many moms stay behind as Kangaroo moms [sometimes for 10 to 12 days] as they cannot leave the clinic due to regulation and fear of abandonment. Unless their families bring them food [which doesn’t happen] they only eat what the state and we provide.
Your contributions assist us to provide much needed nutrition.

This year I will not be collecting 2nd hand clothing or items of linen. Last year we had a really good response and I know that many of you prefer to give these items to us because you know that they are going to places of need. Unfortunately, it is extremely time consuming to sort these items and I do not have the capacity at present to do this due to other commitments and obligations with work.

If you do have items that you would like to donate, take them to your nearest home for children or place of safety for women and children; alternatively, [believe it or not] your Ward Councillor will know of people in need either in your area or another area.

I would like to say thank you again and in anticipation for your continued support in the next year. I look forward to seeing all of you and hearing your news.

Please continue to pass on our notices and continue to email or phone me should you have any questions.

Happy February everyone and lots of love

Norah Papanicolaou

Update September 2010

Hello Everybody
It has been a really busy and difficult month for us but I’m happy to say that the worst is over, we are all well again and that hopefully soon, we can all get back on track and do what we need to do.


Thank you for all your well wishes and love and help.

Thank you to the following contributors:
Arlene Johansson, Dr Lara Smith, Bronwyn Hopwood, Marlene Helfrecht, Jane and Sebastian Dunn, Tara and Dave Dunn, Sharon Wewege, Heather Mylne, Rene Grimmbacher, Liam and Sam Grimmbacher, Michael P., Donna Cobban, Luc Michot, Anna Johansson, Yolanda and Alan Parry, The DA Ladies Committee, Bessie and Athina Kotsiopolous, Jessica Midlane and baby Lucy, Helen Schick and baby Maia, Claire Surman and Baby Ellie, Catherine Orr and baby Benjamin, Cahterine Johnson and Baby Charlie, Jill Barker and baby Oscar, Kara Williams and baby Noah, Melissa Talbot and baby Evie, Rachel McCurrie and baby Hamish, Catherine Swindles and baby Neave, Elaine Aquadro, Willem and Denise van Bergen, Annette Milner, Tara Girdlestone, Our friends at the New Beginnings Clinic, and our friends from Monterey Pre-Primary School. If I have left any names out, please forgive me. There are just so many caring people out there who have contributed generously with products as well as time and expertise – thank you to each of you and know that you have made a difference in someone’s life.

Babies Born during September:
There were 206 babies born at the clinic in September; 94 boys and 112 girls.

I found it very surprising at the amount of new moms aged 40 +… there were at least 15 of them and I had to giggle to myself and ask if there was a power failure 9 months ago.

But jokes aside, there is still a large number of young girls giving birth and when asked, they all say that it is a planned pregnancy. The clinic saw twin boys born at the end of September – this is unusual as the twins are seen as a complicated birth and are normally sent to Groote Schuur hospital.

The largest baby weighed 4,554 grams.

 Mom and Baby packs:
We continue to receive the most beautiful NEW items for the mom and baby packs – thank you very much for this as we only give NEW items for these. We still have a shortfall of panties for all the moms who go to the clinic.

Dry Goods’ Pantry:
Yolanda Parry still continues to add to the pantry in terms of frozen soup – this is on top of the contribution of 20 frozen soups per month from another person. Fresh bread, jam and peanut butter is given weekly and this just adds to our existing pantry of noodles, packet soups, baked beans, tinned tomatoes, rice and pasta.

The government still only supplies one dry Provita and a cup of soup daily for each patient.

2nd hand baby clothes from UK:
Jessica Midlane and friends [noted above] collected clothing for safe houses and baby homes. We managed to get Rob Aquadro who works for Richard Branson’s Virgin Group of companies to transport free of charge, the goods via ship to Cape Town. We were awed by the response from everyone involved who helped to do this.
Reality set in and the goods could not be cleared through customs due to red tape. 2nd hand clothing is an item that cannot be imported as a donation. VAT and clearances needed to be paid – which were going to be waved, but unfortunately due to the fact that there were 15 nappies and 4 pairs of baby shoes in the consignment, another additional two permits were needed.
These could only be given once an 8 page document were completed in triplicate and sent to Pretoria; and in addition to this, a document from a registered NGO needed to be completed stating that we are not going to re-sell these items.

While all this was happening, the consignment was stored and the storage fee amounted to more than the value of the clothing – a couple of thousand rands.

 Due to this and the fact stated above, the goods have been moved to the State warehouse where one of the following things can happen:
It will be auctioned off. If not sold it may either be destroyed or the government can donate the goods to less fortunate.

We are investigating attending the auction in October some time.
This has been a harrowing experience for me as well as a huge learning curve for all involved.

Place of Hope
Numerous people have been paying a lot of attention to Place of Hope – one of the safe houses to where we send some of our moms and babies.
Thank you so much especially Suzelle and your group – the room make overs are valued more than you can imagine and the Pamper day is still spoken about.

Staff at the clinic
These are dedicated and hard-working women who are often affected by the patients they see daily. One cannot do this work without having amazing amounts of compassion for others.

Last month during a gang-shooting at the day hospital next door, they just continued working with this going on and police running around – that is dedication!

Dullah course
I have had a number of enquiries for this even as far away as Rustenberg. Please send me more emails and I will give you the details of the courses run for our Dullahs.

Soccer Day
Annually we have a soccer day in order to raise funds for a special day for the staff at the clinic. This usually happens in November and teams may enter at R20 per person.

It has proven to be a day of great fun and the funds are then taken and we have a team building day for all the staff who really value the fact that we do something special for them.

If you want to enter a soccer team and join us for this, please email me and I will send the details.

DA Ladies group
Councillor Denis Joseph and the DA Ladies’ Committee have visited both the MOU and Day hospital in the past month, distributing sandwiches and soup.

Thank you Denis and Harriet for what you do for the Retreat community.

Donations of 2nd hand clothing for women, men and children:
 At present I am still busy organising our house. As you know, we have moved recently and I still have to unpack and sort personal things, so I am going to ask that you hold on to the clothing that you’d like to donate for safe houses and children’s homes until such time that I say that I am collecting again.

Should you wish to, however, I can give a list of places to where you may take these items yourself.

Thank you again and I hope you’re all well and healthy.
Enjoy the spring blossoms and the occasional rain – summer will be here soon!
Lots of love always
Norah

Update July 2010

Hello Everybody


Just when I thought we could pack away warm clothes because of the lovely warm days we’ve had, the weather turns and it is cold again. I forget that July and August are the months of freezing wind – let’s just hope that September will come quickly and then we can celebrate Spring and start enjoying picnics and summery days again.


Thank you to the following contributors
Arlene Johansson, Dr Lara Smith, Bronwyn Hopwood, Marlene Helfrecht, Jane and Sebastian Dunn, Tara and Dave Dunn, Sharon Wewege, Heather Mylne, Sheena Hutchings, Ingrid Rix, Suzelle Moolman and friends, Michael P., Donna Cobban, Luc Michot, Anna Johansson, Ruby Passet-Gradwell, Yolanda and Alan Parry, Bessie and Athina Kotsiopolous, Liz Brunette, Elaine Aquadro, Annette Milner, Taryn Hopwood, Cindy Robertson, Joeline Stupel, Mikki Dimopoulos, Tim and Judith Brebner, Willem and Denise van Bergen, Rob Aquadro, our friends in Manchester, UK: Jessica Midlane, Helen S., Claire S., Catherine O., Catherine J., Jill B and friends, Kara W., Melissa T., Nicola C., Rachel Mc., Sir Richard Branson, Anonymous friends at New Beginnings Clinic, anonymous parents from Monterey Pre-Primary School.

About 3 months ago I jokingly asked that if anyone knew Sir Richard Branson, to please ask him to assist us in bringing clothing for safe and baby houses from the UK. Jessica Midlane and her friends from Manchester had collected for us but we had no way of bringing it over as we do not have the funds for shipping.


Elaine Aquadro is a neighbour and her son Rob works for a company owned by Richard Branson, and miraculously, we were put together and he is sponsoring the shipment for us. These items left the UK via boat on the 20 August and should be in Cape Town in about 3 weeks’ time.
I am over the moon and yet again, dumbfounded at just how the world turns and how things come together and work out. Thank you so much Rob for assisting us with this problem and for all the trouble you’ve gone to on our behalf. You are indeed a hero!

Babies Born:
There were 182 babies born at the clinic in July – 109 were boys and 73 girls; all perfect and beautiful.

Mom and Baby Packs
Thank you for the beautiful clothes for the babies as well as the items for the mom packs. They are indeed very much appreciated. We have been privileged in receiving a small quantity of panties for moms that we’ve given to the sisters in charge – these will be given to the moms who desperately need them.
We are still appealing for more medium sized panties [either washable or disposable] as we never have enough for the moms.

Dry goods pantry
The support for the dry goods pantry has been great again – I laugh sometimes, because our freezer [Thank you Sheena] is filled with soups [thank you Yolanda and friends] and not just the 40 we normally receive.

Medical Equipment
About 2 years ago I had discussions with UNICEF about sponsoring medical equipment for the clinic, but due to reasons beyond my control, this fell through. Yolanda Parry has been in contact with a group who has indicated that they’ll be supplying Retreat Maternity with some of the much needed medical equipment. I’ll fill you in on more about this next month as I do not have the details yet.

Breastfeeding Clinic
The need for information on breastfeeding for moms at the clinic has been noted and with the initiative taken by Antoinette, one of the sisters at the clinic, she has started a breastfeeding clinic. The first formal breastfeeding clinic was on Friday, 6th August, and from what I hear, the response was very positive.

The passion with which Antoinette approaches this, is admirable; and it does take determination for a mom who is struggling to breastfeed, to continue. Antoinette is helping moms give their babies the best first defense in life.

City of Cape Town
The CoCT has, in recognition of Women’s Day, arranged for women over the age of 30 to have free cervical/pap-smears.

One of the venues where this will be held is the Day Hospital next to the Retreat Maternity Clinic. This has been advertised far and wide in Cape Town but the response at the Retreat Maternity Clinic has been an excited hub of telling everyone to come. Cervical smears are so important and many women forget to have this done. Cervical cancer is a silent killer and all it takes is one pap smear every year to ensure your health.

67 Days on Mandela Day – 18 July
A Huge thank you to all of you who participated in making the lives of those who are less fortunate better by offering 67 minutes [and more in most cases] of your time on this day. Thank you especially to Tracey and Sean Fraser and friends for organising food for 300 homeless people on this day. You guys are selfless beyond words and are an example to all of us.

Women’s Day – 9 August
Lilian Ngoyi, Bertha Mashaba and Helen Joseph were 3 of 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings in protest of the Pass Laws on 9 August 1956.

Today, we pay tribute to women who changed the course of South African history by celebrating Women’s Day; but also to recognise that women are silently capable of changing the world.
Suzelle Moolman is a friend of mine and has been working with a group of her friends at Place of Hope in Crawford, a place of safety for abused women and children. Suzelle is organising a pamper day in honour of Women’s Day for Saturday 14th August. The women and teenaged girls who live there will have a short aerobics class, will have their hair washed and styled, listen to a talk by a psychologist, and be given small pamper bags.

If anyone is interested in helping out on the day, it will be from 9am to 2pm, on Saturday 14th August – please contact me.

On a personal note
I will be without email from the 23 August up until about the 3 September. You will only be able to contact me on my mobile phone.

I will be doing a collection week during 23 August to 27 August, so please call me to arrange collection or drop off if you can.

Also, I will only be collecting items for the mom and baby packs as well as food items for the dry goods pantry .Please keep the second hand clothing until next month’s collection week.

Have fun this week, and surround yourselves with positive things … Life is good!

Lots of love

Norah Papanicolaou

Update March 2010

Hello Everybody

   What a wonderful time of year! Easter Holidays and being spoilt by spending special time with the children and family; enjoying the last days of summer and being privileged to live in Cape Town… We’ve seen the Argus happening and enjoyed watching the runners in the 2 Oceans’ Marathon. Well done to those of you who have participated and completed these endurance events.

I hope you’ve all had a blessed Easter and have remembered the true meaning of Easter.

A huge thank you to the following contributors…
Arlene Johannson, Dr Lara Smith, Marlene Helfrecht, Bronwyn Hopwood, Alexandra Fisher, Jane and Sebastian Dunn, Tara and Dave Dunn, Jo Dix, Sandy Schuurman, Sharon Wewege, Heather Mylne, Sheena Hutcihngs, Anne Wilson, Rene Grimmbacher, Michael P., Donna Cobban, Melissa and Sally Harriss, Anna Johannson, Yolanda Parry, Harriet and Councilor Denis Joseph, the DA Women’s Network [DAWN], Colleen Sinclaire, Dalma Cherryll, the anonymous friends at the New Beginnings Clinic, Anonymous friends from Monterey Pre-Primary School.

Thank you for each contribution – I have said before that no matter how big or small, it does make a difference to those who receive the items you donate to the Zoe Project.

A Warning…

As you are all aware, we have never asked for monetary contributions for the Zoe Project. It has been brought to our attention that there is a group of people who are fundraising for the Zoe Project. We have not employed any person or persons to do this on our behalf.

Please ensure that if you do contribute money to any cause, that you know to whom this is going and that it is legitimate. You are welcome to phone me to clarify the names and positions of people who work on the Zoe Project.

Babies Born…

Well, March 2010 has turned our Cape Town statistics on its head because there were more boys born than girls at the Retreat Maternity clinic. 99 Boys and 89 girls!

Just when you think you know what is going to happen, nature changes things up side down.

Other news of interest is that only 4 of the babies born were to teenagers: 1 x 15 year old and 3 x 16 year olds. We hope that this is an indication that the birthrate amongst young girls will drop and that the average age of giving birth of 14 years old in the Western Cape, will change. We also trust that the campaign of using condoms and contraceptives is getting through to the younger [and older] generation.


Mom and Baby Packs…

Last month, we received the most gorgeous baby clothes, and again this month [thank you Yolanda, Melissa and Sally] we were pleasantly surprised with another kind donation of the most gorgeous baby items. We will be using this for our Christmas day babies.

In addition to these items of baby clothing, we have received beautiful mom and baby packs [thanks Donna and Rene]. Your continuous and loyal support of our project assists me in continuing to believe in the kindness and humanity of others.

The toys that are so kindly knitted [thank you Anna] by hands that cannot do other tasks bring joy to little ones who perhaps would not have a new toy otherwise.

And the lovely baby products which we will include in our baby packs – perfect size! [thank you Colleen].

I am gobsmacked at the kindness and selflessness that I see every month – people who give sometimes when they can’t afford to, and those who give because they feel it is all they can do.
Thank you for that.

Dry goods pantry…

Our pantry is feeding the number of moms who give birth overnight and those who stay for Kangaroo care. Every month the amount of people being fed is different, and every month the amount of food I receive is different – but it is always enough. Miraculously it fills the stomachs of those who need the food.

We are in desperate need of powdered milk to make 3 liters of milk per day; and we are in desperate need of bread [2 loaves per day] for the clinic.

Pollsmoor babies…

Most of the babies of mothers who are incarcerated at Pollsmoor Prison are born at the Retreat Maternity Clinic. In an emergency situation these babies are born at Groote Schuur Hospital, but most of the time the moms are brought to Retreat MOU along with their guard and they wait. Children do not ask questions and moms who are imprisoned do not feel less pain at giving birth. We live privileged lives and no matter who you are, your child is precious to us.

Support messages and encouragement…

Thank you to all who have sent messages of support and encouragement. It means a lot to me but it means so much more to the staff who work at the clinic.

Enjoy the rest of April and lots of love
Norah Papanicolaou
norah@xsinet.co.za

February 2010 Update

Hello Everybody

   The first term of this year is almost over and life is flying by. I hope you are all well and have been making the best of the hot weather.

A huge thank you to the following contributors…

Arlene Johannson, Jane and Sebastian Dunn, Tara and David Dunn, Sandy Schuurman, Sharon Wewege, Heather Mylne, Ingrid Rix, Rene Grimmbacher, Michael P., Donna Cobban, Anna Johannson, Yolanda Parry, Cathi and Colin Henderson, Sally Harris, Colleen Sinclair, Sharon Reynolds, The kind parents and children at Constantiaberg Pre-school, our anonymous friends at the New Beginnings clinic, Anonymous friends at Monterey Pre-Primary, and The ladies at the Constantia Gardeners’ club.

Babies born…

There were 185 babies born in February 2010 - 87 of them were boys.

Again I was very privileged to be a birthing assistant to a mom on Monday while she was giving birth, and I must say that the experience is still the same – absolute awe at the little miracles coming into the world.

The mom’s pain during labour and the dad’s face when he sees his child for the first time.
There are few things that can compare to this experience.

Well done to the staff who work so hard, and who assist moms to give birth to healthy babies under very difficult and sometimes stressful situations.

Mom and baby packs…
We have received the most beautiful newborn baby clothes for our baby packs. The moms will be most grateful for these, and also, we will be going into winter soon: the majority of these items were for winter!

The items are all lovely and very much appreciated by those who receive them.

The second hand clothing all goes to either safe houses or baby houses – so thank you for those items too.

Dry goods pantry…
The milk delivery [2 liters a day] seems to be problematic at present, as well as the bread [which is no longer available], so the food items we provide along with, of course, the daily one dry Provita, is all they have to feed the moms.

Thank you for your continuous support here. It is difficult, especially for the Kangaroo moms, to breastfeed a baby when you have an empty stomach.

We still have our 40 x 250g margarine tubs filled with vegetable soup – and if any of you would like to make more for us, please let me know.

A Special thank you…
To Elsie and Ras du Plessis from Miracle Kidz. I mentioned them in our newsletter and update last month but I would like to thank them again because they have gone above and beyond being emergency foster parents. Elsie and Ras have helped a very desperate pregnant mom by looking after her child while she went into labour.

The dedication of these two individuals is phenomenal – they have made a huge difference to the life of that child AND the one the mom has given birth to.

Another extra-ordinary thank you…
I am not going to name them by name [can’t single out individuals], but the two sisters at MOU who assisted with another emergency baby from Westlake – thank you for going out of your way to help this baby, for helping us register him and getting him his necessary injections.

You have done a wonderful service to him and I am especially impressed that you do your work with such joy and pleasure. Thank you!

Dullah Course…
Our Dullah trainer will be running another course soon – if you are interested in becoming a ‘birthing assistant’ please let me know and I can arrange for you to join the group who will be training.

Please note that these courses are run specifically for people who want to help at the Retreat Maternity Clinic. People who would like to do this privately and earn an income from this have to arrange their own
courses and training.

Support Structures…
I would like to talk a bit about support structures. We all have someone, either family or a close friend, who is there for us during a time of need. But we are also there to support them.

Many of the women I come across at the clinic and within underprivileged communities do not have this.

The question is, what do we do about this?
I haven’t got an answer yet, but I do know that it is important to re-connect with people and to value the friendships we do have. It isn’t about what that person can do for us, the maybe’s or perhapses, but rather an emotional support: The ‘just being there’ kind of support.
Life will feel lighter with someone on your side.

No man is an island, we need others to grow and others need us too.

Thank you so much again for all the wonderful messages of support that we receive via email and other means – the encouragement is an amazing boost for the staff and it is great to know that so many people care about what we do.

Take care and lots of love
Norah Papanicolaou
Information Empowers!
because every child matters
and for The Zoe Project
http://www.informationempowers.org.za/
norah@xsinet.co.za

Update January 2010 by Norah Papanicolaou

Life is Precious!

Hello Everybody

   What a wonderful way to start the year and get going! We have had a great response this month with people phoning and emailing to find out about the Zoe Project and Information Empowers! Word spreads fast and good things happen because people care.

Thank you to the following contributors…

Alison Roberts, Arlene Johannson, Dr Lara Smith, Bronwyn Hopwood, Marlene Helfrecht, Jane and Sebastian Dunn, Tara and Dave Dunn, Jo Dix, Nicki Stock, Nikki Andrew, Sandy Schuurman, Sharon Wewege, Heather Mylne, Sheena Hutchings, Rene Grimmbacher, Donna Cobban, Michael P, Jennifer Norman, Anna Johannson, Antoinette and Claude Denis, Melica McCrae, Yolanda Parry, Constantia Ladies’ Gardening Club, Nurith Henderson and Ivodent, Georgie and Constantiaberg Pre-primary school, Thea Bessie and Thea Athina Kotsopolous, Anonymous friends at The New Beginnings Clinic and anonymous friends at Monterey Pre-Primary School.

   A Special thanks to Elsie and Ras Du Plessis for helping out one of the moms and her toddlers in an emergency situation… Elsie and Ras run Miracle Kidz and they are emergency foster parents to little ones who require special care.

Births at the clinic during January…

There were 187 births with 107 of them being boys!

   I would like to add the following [due to a couple of questions posed to me recently] that most of the moms who go there to have their babies, actually want their children and have planned their pregnancies.

   They are just in a situation where they cannot afford the luxury of a private hospital. Circumstances are preventing them from giving their children expensive medical care, but that cannot be a detraction from the fact that they have planned that child and are able to give that child their best. Like you and I would.

    The women who are addicted to substances, or are living on the street also go there to have their children. These are the ones we are helping most of all because of their situations. To us, it doesn’t matter from which demographic situation you hail, but rather that we are in a position to help you and that precious child.

Dry goods pantry…

   I have learnt that the bread supply [2 loaves a day] is no longer being supplied to the clinic. I would like to put out an appeal for 14 loaves of bread a week – they can be frozen at the clinic, in order to assist with this desperate shortfall.

   We are continuing with the frozen soup [40 x 250g margarine tubs a month], and with the 2 minute noodles, pasta, rice and tinned food, et cetera.

   The food makes a huge difference to the moms who are breastfeeding their underweight babies [Kangaroo moms] and to those who do not get a meal delivered to them by family – which is most of the women.

Please let me know if you would like to sponsor 14 loaves of bread a week.

Mom and baby packs…

   They continue to wow me! Thank you for the lovely items for both mom and babies. They are very much appreciated and needed.

Interest in the clinic and wanting to do something more…
  
   I have had a couple of people ask about physically helping out at the clinic. Please contact me to discuss the needs. Again, we are in need of birthing assistants [Dullahs] and this can only happen if you have the time to sit with the mom while she is in labour UNTIL the baby is born.


Please keep forwarding our emails to your friends, family and associates. We have a busy year ahead and the more people we reach, the easier it is for us to help others and keep this project going.

Thank you again and happy February.
Lots of love

Norah Papanicolaou
norah@xsinet.co.za

Update November 2009 by Norah Papanicolaou

Hello everybody
   Again, I am so wowed by the incredible response and encouraging feedback received from all of you and people I don’t even know.

Thank you to the following contributors…
   Alison Roberts, Anna Johansson, Dimitra Kotsopolous, Thea Athina Kotsopolous, Thea Vessie Kotsopolous, Dr Lara Smith, Marlene Helfrecht, Bronwyn Hopwood, Jane and Sebastian Dunn, Tara and Dave Dunn, Jo Dix, Lorette Garnett, Nikki Andrew, Antoinette Dennis, Sandy Schuurman, Sharon Wewege, Heather Mylne, Sheena Hutchings, Yolanda Parry, Rene Grimmbacher, Liam Grimmbacher, Samuel Grimmbacher, Donna Cobban, Luc Michot, Michael P., Kirsten Hopwood, Annette Cowley-Nel, Johnathan Ackerman, Melica McCrae, Ruby Passet-Gradwell, Denis and Harriet Joseph, The Ladies from the DA Women’s committee, Anonymous friends at the New Beginnings clinic, anonymous parents from Monterey Pre-Primary School………..

I would like to say a special thank you for all the wonderful clothes received for children and women this month. The clothing for the children are so welcomed – the sponsors of 2 children’s homes have withdrawn their clothing donations and the children and young ladies at the homes are very, very grateful for the items received. Well done and thank you!

Births at the clinic in November…
   There were 199 births in November and 91 of those were boys. Again being in Cape Town, more girls than boys born.
   Attached is a photo of a little girl born on 1 December at 10h21. She weighed 3.05kg. Gorgeous and healthy.

The pantry…
   The pantry needs have again been filled and the food is still being monitored by either the sister on duty at night or the midwife on duty at night.

Mom and Baby Packs…
   We have received the most beautiful mom and baby packs – thanks to all of you. I will be going through to the clinic on Christmas morning as usual, to hand out special Christmas baby and mom packs. Photographs will appear on the blogspot after Christmas.

Zoe Sports Day…
   I will post some photographs of our sports day a bit later on the blogspot for you to view. Eight teams took part in the ‘mini-tournament’ and all had a great time despite the cold and rainy weather. The money raised at the sports day will go towards a special Staff day for the personnel who work at the clinic. A huge thank you to all the individuals and families who came to watch. It isn’t always about winning but about support and encouragement. This means a lot to all of us, but especially the staff at the clinic.

Zoe goes International…
   A couple of months ago I mentioned that a USA based radio station has taken on the Zoe Project as a pilot project in the states. I am happy to report that currently the “Zoe project mom and baby packs” are being given to hospitals with less-privileged patients in America and Mexico. They are calling it the “Zoe Sacks”. The same principle applies – those moms who are in desperate situations receive something new for the newborns and receive a mom’s pack for themselves. They too, have to leave the hospital or clinic a couple of hours after giving birth. We are very excited that our concept and name has gone international and that others overseas are also being helped in the same way people are here.

Goodbye…
   We are saying goodbye to Bethany this month. Bethany counseled at the clinic on a Friday and has been for the last 8 months. Bethany’s main focus is going to be the “baby-safe” project, which is in Fish Hoek. Babies who are abandoned are placed in a safe which was designed by an American Engineer. Once the weight of the baby touches a pad under the blanket, it sends an alarm signal to ADT and 3 people who are in close proximity to the safe. We wish Bethany well and say thank you for your wonderful contribution to the Zoe Project.

Hello…
   We now have our own resident psychologist, Alison Breen. Alison’s main focus will be for the staff. She’ll attend the clinic once a month to start with and will conduct group-sessions with the staff at first – mostly information sessions to assist them in helping patients. Welcome Alison.

   We also have a permanent Dullah – I’ve been asking you guys to join if you have time. But Portia works every Tuesday. Portia helps as a birthing assistant and she has managed to make the work of the nursing staff so much lighter. Welcome Portia.

Information Empowers and Kids2Kids…
   I will send out a notice about the happenings and events of Information Empowers! next week. I don’t want to run ahead of myself with this. We are currently in the middle of a huge project which is dear to my heart and is proving to be very successful.

   School holidays are upon us. please drive carefully and look after yourselves.

I will be doing a collection week in December and I know that most of you will probably be away on holiday. If you’d like, we can arrange to collect items for the pantry and the mom and baby packs earlier – please just let me know what would suit you.

Take care and lots of love

Norah Papanicolaou
Director - Information Empowers!
because every child matters
and for the Zoe Project
http://www.informationempowers.org.za/
norah@xsinet.co.za

4th September Update by Norah Papanicolaou

Hello Everybody

Spring has sprung and I always look out for those first little blossoms on the tree.
Freesias were always in our house when I grew up and in mid-August, this is the sign for me
that summer is near.

I hope you’re all well and enjoying a great Spring!

Thank you to the following contributors.
Arlene Johannson, Dr Lara Smith, Bronwyn Hopwood, Marlene Helfrecht, Jane and Sebastian Dunn, Dave and Tara Dunn, Dimitra Kotsopoulos, Lorette Garnett, Nicki and Mia Stock, Nikki Andrew, Sharon Wewege, Heather Mylne, Ingrid Rix, Tracey and Sean Fraser, Michael P.,
Donna Cobban, Anna Johannson, Kirsten Hopwood, Annette Cowley-Nel, Johnathan Ackerman, Jo Ashwell and family, Antoinette Dennis, Melica McCrae, Andre and Becky Baldeo, Leigh-Anne and Brent Gerhard, Thea Athina Kotsopoulos and Thea Bessie Kotsopoulos.

Thank you for the beautifully knitted baby clothes – made with such care and love. Thank you for the specially picked snug blankets for the babies. Thank you for the toothpaste and tooth brushes, and soap and face cloths – I wish you could see what I see when these packs are given to the moms who don’t have. Their relief and gratitude is tangible.

Thank you for the food items which feed the moms who give birth overnight and also feed the kangaroo moms, who sometimes stay at the clinic for up to 2 weeks. They are not allowed to leave, because of fear of abandonment, and unless their families bring them food which doesn’t happen often, they only get the food from the Dry Goods Pantry. The state only supplies ONE dry Provita and a cup of soup per day per person.

Births at the clinic…
In August there were 202 babies born, and guess what? I have taken the book and worked through each birth and can happily tell you that there were 87 boys born and 115 girls. There have always been more girls born than boys on the days that I am there, so I think that this is really the norm at the moment. We just hope that these babies are given a better chance in life, irrespective of being male or female.

Difficulties experienced by staff at the clinic…
Aside from the volume of patients coming through the doors, and day-to-day labour [excuse the pun], some of the difficulties experienced by staff members are about patients. Women who are pregnant, know that they are pregnant and NOT once during their pregnancy seeing any medical personnel. They arrive when they are in labour. On Tuesday, a woman arrived in labour, she had not seen a doctor or nurse during her pregnancy and the baby was a breech baby. When she was examined, she was 7 ½ cm dilated and the umbilical cord was showing.
The sister in charge had to phone for an ambulance, but that was cancelled because she had to make the decision to save the baby. Happily a little baby boy was born FEET first, crying his heart out but he was well. This was another miracle.
Education about pregnancy is vital in some communities, yet even those who know to go to the doctor chose not to. And this puts their babies and their own lives at risk.

Earlier that morning, a baby was born prematurely at 26 weeks gestation. She weighed only 750grams and was sent with mom, to Groote Schuur Hospital for incubation. We trust that both of them will be okay.

It is difficult looking into the vacant eyes of a 15 year old who has just given birth. The average age of young moms in RSA is 14 years. This young girl didn’t know how to dress her new baby, and it saddens me to know that they have to leave the clinic and go back to where they came from, not knowing things they need to know to look after that baby. What saddens me more is that this 15 year old should be in school. She should have only her education and making her life better, in mind. The counselors with the Zoe Project assist where they can and give sound advice, but in the end the decision lies with the mom.

Cape Town’s Child Magazine…
The September issue of Cape Town’s Child magazine concentrates on Social Responsibility. Donna Cobban who is a feature writer for the magazine contacted me early in August and mentioned that they would be doing this article [see pages 39-42]. I am so happy that we were given the opportunity to mention Place of Hope in Crawford. Some of our clients also go to Sisters Incorporated and Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children - also mentioned in the article. Thank you for this, Donna and Lucille. Places like this need as much exposure by the media as possible and I know that people have already been in contact to help.

Second Hand clothing, Household equipment…
We are continuing to appeal for good quality, clean and washed second hand clothing for our safe houses and baby houses. Working household equipment is used to assist moms set up their own place once they are ready to leave the safe houses. Household linen and bedding is also welcome. Computers in working condition will be used by the offices and also for training centres – where the women in the safe houses can learn how to use a computer and use that skill to find work in an office as opposed to cleaning someone’s house. Please keep this in mind when you are clearing out or hear of someone who is clearing out. Contact me and I will collect from you.

Information Empowers!
Well, I mentioned Leaps and Bounds in the last newsletter, and we are moving forward fighting the war against child sexual abuse. A workshop which has been written for children, has been adapted and is being used to empower women. It is called MAXIMUM ME! And we are proud to say that it has proven to be quite successful in the areas where it has been used.

It is with great anger and heartfelt disgust that I heard this week that convicted paedophile, William John Creasy will be let out on bail on Friday, 10 September. He has spent only 6 years in jail for raping children, making pornography using little children and distribution thereof. The list of this man’s offences goes on. It is a well-known fact that paedophiles CANNOT be rehabilitated. The Sexual Offenders’ Register Bill has been passed by parliament, but access to this by normal citizens is limited. So if Mr Creasy decides to live in Caledon [as he has indicated] what is stopping him from changing his name, and moving in next to the local crèche or pre-school to continue with his paedophilic behaviour?

On a more POSITIVE NOTE, Information Empowers! has started an initiative called Kids2Kids. I have attached the brochure to this email. It is very exciting and we wish all of you to read the brochure and distribute it to all you know.
We hope that you will participate when your child comes home from school with this leaflet. We are also trying to get some corporate sponsors involved to help us with printing of the brochures and at the same time, when we get sponsors, we will include their company logos on the brochures.

I wish you all a happy Spring. Life is too short to waste. Take every opportunity and live NOW. Be happy with your children. Choose your battles with them wisely – they grow up too fast.

Thank you again for all you do and lots of love