The Zoe Project Update March and April 2011

Hello Everybody

Thank you for being patient with me with regard to our email updates. I will be sending out an email every 2 months from now on.

Thank you to our contributors:

Ingrid Rix, Arlene Johansson, Anna Johansson, Denise and Willem van Bergen, Sharon Wewege and Heather Milne and our anonymous friends at New Beginnings Clinic.

Dry goods pantry:

We have not received food for the dry goods pantry in the last 3 months and it has been sorely missed by all the moms at the clinic. We have been buying bread and bare necessities every week to fill in the little bit of food [one dry Provita and a cup of tea a day] that the government gives to feed the moms.

Mom and Baby packs:

We are still in desperate need of all the items for the mom and baby packs. Please let me know if you can assist here.

We can make a small difference, and we do. We will continue to work at the Retreat maternity clinic as we have in the past. At present I am sure everyone is feeling the pinch and we are confident that things for our moms and babies will pick up.

Congratulations to Yolanda Parry:

Yolanda was nominated and won the “Rotary Woman of the Year 2011 award” for her work done at the clinic. Yolanda has been with us for a year now and her work every Tuesday is so valuable to the moms who come into contact with her during labour and afterwards. Congratulations, Yolanda! You deserve the accolade.

Making a personal difference:

The election on the 18th May is so close and I hope you have all registered to vote and that you will make your vote count. Only by voting can one have a say in how the government is run and enforce small changes in the country.

I hope you have all had a wonderful Easter and holiday week. Back to work tomorrow and back to school for the children.

Stay safe and 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

Zoe Update November 2010

Hello Everybody


It is that time of the year – silly season! Schools break up for a very long and much needed holiday,
families plan visits and trips, and we rush around getting last-minute things together for the festive season.
I hope you’ll all have a wonderful, restful time.

I will not be doing a newsletter in December this year, as I will be taking some time off. The past year has
been a huge challenge for us all, and this will be a time for me to spend with my family and children.
Definitely a much-needed and anticipated break!

Thank you to the following contributors:
Arlene Johansson, Dr Lara Smith, Marlene Helfrecht, Bronwyn Hopwood, Jane and Sebastian Dunn, Tara and Dave Dunn, Sandy Schuurman, Sharon Wewege, Heather Mylne, Rene Grimmbacher, Sam and Liam Grimmbacher, Michael P., Donna Cobban and Luc Michot, Anna Johansson, Kaye Longman, Yolanda and Allan Parry, Collyeen Sinclair, Bessie and Athina Kotsiopolous, Dimitra Kotsiopolous, Willem and Denise van Bergen, Annette Milner, Elaine Aquadro, Pam Cable, friends at New Beginnings Clinic and friends at Monterey Pre-Primary School, Georgie and anonymous friends from Constantiaberg Pre-Primary School.

Babies Born during November:
There were 177 babies born during November – 97 were boys and the rest girls. Twelve babies were born to young women 17 or younger.

A Reflection on the year behind us:
As far as the counseling goes, Tracey has seen 115 clients and has facilitated 7 adoptions. It has been interesting that the severity of problems experienced by clients have increased due to the rise in tik abuse. Clients are much more inclined to be dishonest, with worse anger problems, resulting in much more time-consuming counseling. The new Act has clamped down on ladies re-entering the same safe houses time and time again, making it difficult to find immediate relief from their situations. But with all this, we have had outstanding results through the year.

We have assisted in removing approximately 10 women and their children to safe houses where domestic violence have been taking place, ensuring better prospects for the mom through the training and counseling provided at the safe houses as well as ensuring the children enter crèches or schools in the areas of the safe houses.

We held a Dullah [birthing partner] course on 18th September, to which 15 people attended. It was an amazing day and left a lot of the women wide-eyed and excited. We have two new Dullahs who have joined our team, Yolanda and Grishelle. They are an absolute blessing to the moms and staff at Retreat MOU. We continue to receive enquiries as to assisting at the clinic in this regard.

The six-a-side Zoe soccer tournament was held on Saturday, 27th November, which was a success. It was amazing to see how sport can be used as a tool to bring people together and to make people aware of the Zoe Project.

240 mom packs and 240 baby packs have been supplied to the Retreat MOU this year. Ten amazing Christmas packs have already been made up and are ready for those precious Christmas babies. All this thanks to your generosity throughout the year.

We have also been promised more baby and moms packs from a corporate sponsor and we cannot wait to distribute theses to our moms on Christmas day.

We now supply 100 portions of homemade soups per month. That’s a whopping 1200 meals per year, absolutely amazing! As well as 32 loaves of bread a month and 8 margarines per month. This is produced consistently throughout the year.

Our dry goods pantry supplies meals for approximately 75 people a month – another 900 meals per year! Incredible to think how far soup and pasta as well as tinned food can go.

There was also a large donation of portable blood-pressure machines, surgical gloves, catheters, etc which has been invaluable to the staff and patients.

Regina Dyonasie, from Masiphumelele, has joined the Zoe Project, handing out food and baby parcels where needed. It has been encouraging to see her enthusiasm in taking responsibility for these donations to her community.

Thank you so much to each of you who have helped us help others. I trust you will all have a blessed December and January. Take this time to enjoy special moments with family and friends.


Lots of love as always,

Norah Papanicolaou

Update October 2010

Hello everybody
   There is always light at the end of every dark tunnel, we just sometimes need to find it!
This year is almost over. We are in the first week of November and my children and family are already talking about the Christmas holidays! I must remind myself every day to pace myself, otherwise the hours will run away from me.
   I hope the proximity of the end of the year is a relaxed one for you.

Thank you to the following contributors:
   Arlene Johannson, Dr Lara Smith, Bronwyn Hopwood, Marlene Helfrecht, Jane and Sebastian Dunn, Tara and Dave Dunn, Kaye Longman, Sandy Schuurmans, Sharon Wewege, Heather Mylne, Michael P., Donna Cobban, Luc Michot, Anna Johannson, Yolanda and Allan Parry, Collyeen Sinclair and Dr Ian Sinclair, Bessie and Athina Kotsiopolous, Elaine Aquadro, Willem and Denise van Bergen, Annette Milner, Elizabeth, Lara and Ross, Salome Coetzee, Lesley Edkins, Fran, Dai Davies, Vyv Deacon, Anonymous friends from New Beginnings clinic in Bergvliet, Anonymous friends from Monterey Pre-Primary School and Rotary International.

Babies born in October 2010:
   There were 88 girls and 79 boys born during October. Two sets of twins among them. As explained in a previous email, twins are not usually born at the clinic, but well done to the staff and Dullahs who assisted. You are doing fantastic work! Seventeen girls under the age of 17 gave birth during October 2010. We are hoping for a decrease in figures here.

   I would like to add that it is humbling for everyone involved in volunteering at Retreat MOU. The instances where children are given up for adoption especially, is emotional for all involved.

   Our volunteers are sometimes caught off guard because a young girl may come in, claiming not to know that she was pregnant due to the denial of being raped. The baby is given up for adoption through legal channels and is immediately removed by a social worker and taken to a foster parent. But the young girl who has just given birth – her life will be changed forever. Not only because of the adoption, or the rape, but also because of the encounter with a volunteer from the Zoe Project.

   It changes the perspective and the hopeless view this girl may have had to one where life seems hopeful. And at the same time, the life and experience of the volunteer is changed too. I cannot stress how much the time and love you exert is appreciated.

   Counseling for these young women is ongoing. We are constantly reminded of how precious life is and to appreciate everything that comes our way.

Mom and Baby packs:
   Thank you again for the beautiful products received for the mom and baby packs. We are still in desperate need of size medium, new panties for the moms.

Regarding second hand clothing:
   I am not in a position right now to receive any more 2nd hand clothing, but will be again next year. Please either keep the clothing or take it to your nearest safe house or baby home. If you need contact details, please call or email me.

Medical Equipment received in September:
   Thank you so much to Dr Ian Sinclair who put us in contact with Rotary International. They have provided much needed medical equipment for the Retreat maternity unit: over 5000 lancets [to prick the baby’s heels], follie’s catheters, surgical gloves and automatic blood pressure cuffs were among the items received. It is worth gold and has made such a huge difference to the staff and patients. Dai Davies and Vyv Deacon were present at the hand-over to Tracey Aitken and Yolanda Parry and sister Lynda Smith.

Vyv Deacon, Tracey Aitken, Yolanda Parry, sister Lynda Smith and Dai Davies.

{photo by Allan Parry}

   We have also received endoscopes which Yolanda has taken to Victoria Hospital where it will be put to good use.

SAPS and Victim Empowerment Groups and Trauma Rooms
   The subject discussed below is very difficult for people to even consider, but I would like to put out an appeal to each of you to consider preparing a KIT for one rape victim, and deliver it to your closest SAPS office.

The first call for any rape victim is often a police station.
   The reason I’m appealing for this is that the SAPS Trauma rooms that I have spoken to are in desperate need of these rape kits. If you live in an area where the trauma rooms have enough prepared rape kits,
the counselors in conjunction with Community Policing Forum members pass it on to those areas where there is a shortfall of kits or a high rape incident rate.

A kit for rape victims consists of the following:
For an adult:
Panties, sanitary pads, deodorant [spray or roll-on], soap, face cloth, disinfectant hand wash, toothbrush and toothpaste, a t-shirt, a hand-towel.

For children:
Broken down into the following age-groups
0-2 year olds: nappies, a soft toy, a blanket, a baby bottle and/or a dummy, a clean set of clothing.
3-8 year olds: underpants or panties, a clean set of clothing [unisex], soap, facecloth, mouthwash, size small pads or panty liners, a blanket and a cuddly toy, a sweetie or chocolate and a juice.
8-12 year olds: the same as for 3-8 year olds, but larger clothing, a note book and pen, colouring book and pencils.

These rape victim kits assist the police and trauma counselors in giving the rape victim, adult or child, a less traumatic experience when reporting the rape.

   If we can change the course of one person’s life to something positive, we have achieved a lot.

I hope you will all stay well and enjoy the summer that is slowly sneaking in.
Thank you again for all that you do.

With love as always

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 August 2010

Hello Everybody

I trust you’re all well. It is almost school holidays again, and before we know it, Christmas!

Thank you to the following contributors:
Arlene Johansson, Dr Lara Smith, Marlene Helfrecht, Bronwyn Hopwood, Elize Johnson, Jane and Sebastian Dunn, Tara and Dave Dunn, Sandy Schuurmans, Sharon Wewege, Heather Mylne, Ingrid Rix, Rene Grimmbacher, Michael P., Anna Johansson, Annette Cowley-Nel, Yolanda Parry, Denis and Harriet Joseph, The DA Ladies’ Committee, Bessie and Athina Kotsiopolous, Jessica Midlane, Rob Aquadro, Anonymous friends at the New Beginnings Clinic, Anonymous friends at Monterey Pre-Primary School, Willem and Denise van Bergen.

Babies Born during August:
There were 164 babies born during August – 76 girls and 88 boys. Quite a low number and unusual.

Mom and baby packs:
We continue to receive the most beautiful new clothing and blankets for the baby packs. I stress the word new because every little item has been bought with care or made with love. This is probably the only new clothing most of these newborns receive. Thank you so much.

Dry goods pantry:
The pantry is going strong. Thank you to the DA Ladies Committee who paid a special visit to the clinic as well as the day hospital on Friday last week. Your presence was much appreciated.
Thank you also to each of you who have been making soup for us – it is the quickest and most nutritional meal we have to offer at present.

Donation of 2nd hand clothing from Jessica Midlane and friends:
Currently these items are in Cape Town but stuck in the Customs office. Unfortunately, due to the customs and excise act, they cannot release the items unless A LOT of paperwork is sent to and fro… it is a bit of a nightmare, but we will get the stuff out. Once we do, I will take photos and post them on the blog.
Thank you Jessica and friends [I have the list of names of the moms and the babies who have contributed and will note them in a later update]; thank you Rob Aquadro [who is able to perform small miracles].

Donation of much needed medical equipment:
At Present, these items are on the way to us. Once I get a list of items received, along with the names of the donors, I will let you all know. It is so much needed and welcomed. A very special thank you to Yolanda Parry who has arranged all of this.

Thank you for all the notes of encouragement and support we receive. I am receiving emails and phone calls from people who heard from a friend and so on, about our project. Please continue to forward our newsletters and updates to your friends and family.

My family and I will be moving on Wednesday, 8th September…. Finally! I am still surrounded by boxes – just more, this time.


Have a fantastic month and lots of love
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