Update 07 October 2009 - the Zoe Project and other good news

Hello Everybody

I hope those of you who have children at school enjoyed the short, sharp holiday. Hopefully
Spring or Summer will show up soon…

Thank you to the following contributors…
Arlene Johansson, Dr Lara Smith, Bronwyn Hopwood, Marlene Helfrecht, Jane and Sebastian Dunn, Tara and Dave Dunn, Lorette and Juliette Garnett, Sandy Schuurmans, Sharon Wewege, Heather Mylne, Sheena Hutchings, Yolanda Parry, Ingrid Rix, Rene and Samuel Grimmbacher, Michael P., Donna Cobban, Luc Michot, Anna Johansson, Kirsten Hopwood, Annette Cowley-Nel, Johnathan Ackerman, Ruby Passet-Gradwell, the Anonymous friends at the New Beginnings Clinic and The anonymous parents from Monterey Preschool.

Each of you is making a difference – and I can’t say it enough. Thank you for all the food
and the beautiful mom’s and baby’s packs you provide. Thank you also for the wonderful items
for the safe houses and baby homes. The rooms look brighter with the duvet covers and lamps
and little mats you’ve given. And the clothes for the women and children in the safe houses
are so welcome.

Births at the clinic in September…
There were 204 births in September and 74 were boys. The youngest mothers were 14, 15 and two 16 year-olds.

Pantry needs…
The pantry is fulfilling a much needed service. The moms who give birth overnight are fed a healthy meal before they go to bed, or at breakfast time. Dried goods really help with feeding the moms, especially the Kangaroo moms who stay for long periods. If their families don’t bring food, they only get the Provita and cup of soup.
These moms are not allowed to leave their babies alone at the clinic for fear of abandonment.

Moms’ needs… [very desperately]
We are in desperate need of NEW Panties, sized Medium. Many of the moms who arrive only have the one panty they are wearing and it isn’t conducive to hygiene for them to wear that panty after they’ve given birth. We have been blessed to have the mom packs handy, but supplies are limited and we would love to be able to leave a couple of panties with the sisters in charge to distribute as the need arises.

Staff at the clinic…
Thanks to the DA ladies group helping with a soup day. They are a group of wonderful women who make soup And travel to various clinics and day hospitals in the peninsula to feed the people who attend these.
Retreat Clinic has been visited and will be on their schedule again this month.
Thanks to councilor Denis Joseph who has arranged this.

Sports Day – Annual Six-A-Side…
We are hosting our annual Sports Day – Soccer, Six-A-Side on Saturday, 7 November.
Registration starts at 08h15 sharp and this year it will be on the Simonstown Navy Sports field.
We request that each player contribute R20 – this money is to raise funds for us to have a
staff Christmas day for the personnel at the Retreat maternity clinic.
Please contact me if you are interested in putting together a team – whether professional, skilled, semi-skilled…
The aim is to have fun and it is a wonderful opportunity to meet some of the Zoe team members.

Place of Hope…
It is with great thanks to Mr Tony Moolenschot from Moolenschot Construction who fixed the huge leak at Place of Hope in Crawford. It is unbelievable generosity that has made an enormous difference to the living conditions of the women and children who reside there. The place is warmer and drier and I haven’t seen a child with a runny nose in a couple of weeks. Thank you, Tony. You have no idea how big it is what you have done.
I would also like to thank Liz Brunette from the Constantia Hills Residents Association for putting us in contact with Tony.
Emails passed on… I’ve said it before.

Tony Moolenschot [right] with Place of Hope, Centre Manager, Jenni Arendorf.

Clean, Washed, Second Hand clothes and used electronic equipment…
We are still appealing for good, washed 2nd hand clothing for women and children for the safe houses. Equally importantly, we would welcome working 2nd hand electronic household equipment for the safe houses second stage housing. If you’re clearing out, please let me know and I’ll collect.

Zoe updates – please look at the blogspot for photographs and past issues of this newsletter.
You can find it at http://www.thezoeproject.blogspot.com/

Information Empowers!...
Our website will be up and running soon. You can find it on http://www.informationempowers.org.za/
Workshops are ongoing and we are moving from strength to strength.

Thank you all again for everything that you do.
With lots of love to you all




Norah Papanicolaou

Norah@xsinet.co.za

Kids2Kids 2009 - An initiative by Information Empowers!

Double click on the image to read full information.
Lots of love
Norah

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

4th August 2009 Update by Norah Papanicolaou

Hello Everybody

I hope you’ve all enjoyed a little break over the school holidays. Having the children at home for three weeks was not enough for me – I always think it is so unfair to send the children back to school when we’ve spent such beautiful time together.

A huge thank you to the following contributors:
Arlene J., Dr Lara S., Bronwyn H., Marlene H., Jane and Sebastian D., Tara and Dave D., Jo D., Lorette G., Nikki A., Sandy S.,Sharon W., Heather M., Sheena and Roly H., Meg and Luke C., Sean and Tracey F., Rene and Samuel G., Luc Michot C., Donna C., Michael P., Kirsten H., Annette C-N., Johnathan A., Jo A., Antoinette D., Melica M., Gary, Andre and Becky B., Leigh-Anne G., Brent G., Amy and Andre B., Albert B., Joan R., Val D., Ann R., Geoff H., Lynn M., Alison T., Linda M., Liz B., Ronnie and Vanessa W., Thabane K., Dorreen and Jackie from Ferndale Nurseries, Mica on Kendal Road and Tony M.

The past month has been a very busy one. The contributions for the Retreat Maternity Unit have been tremendous. The dry-goods pantry has been filled once again for the month by YOU GUYS. The fact that the food being supplied by government has been diminished to a dry provita and a cup of soup a day has not demoralised the nursing staff at the centre, because they know that the food we supply is enough for the mothers who go there to give birth and for those who stay as Kangaroo moms. The nursing staff feel that when they feed the patients who have had nothing to eat that they can supply a much better health care service once they’ve fed them. The care they feel for the patients who come to the centre is tangible.

It is always tremendous to hand out the baby and mom packs to those women who have nothing! I thank you for the care you’ve taken in selecting each item for these women and their precious little babies. Dignity is the last thing that can be taken away from anyone, and the joy and absolute gratitude that they have when they dress their little bundle in these items, is overwhelming.

I would also like to especially thank Mrs. Liz Brunette who is the chair of the Constantia Hills Residents Association. She contacted me on 16th July to enquire whether I knew of a place where the residents of Constantia Hills could go to spend 67 Minutes on Mandela Day. Well, she very quickly organized a group of people to assist in the day and to contribute things to make Place of Hope in Crawford, a better place.

The residents [named amongst the names above] came through and they cleaned the crèche, painted the kitchen cupboards and planted a vegetable garden – 2, in fact. A large number of bedding [duvets and covers] and other small household items, clothing for the 30 women and 34 children who live there were supplied and the residents of Place of Hope were very grateful for this.

It is not said lightly when I say that I do see little miracles happen every day!

Births at the Clinic
There were 211 births at the clinic in July 2009; each child precious and beautiful and with a purpose in life.

Information Empowers!
We are moving forward in leaps and bounds and the message against child sexual abuse is spreading. The workshops that have been developed are helping children become empowered and learn more. The workbook [C.I.A. Kids’ Workbook] is not only a book for children to learn about safety, but it is also being used as a tool for facilitators to assist the children using it.

Disclosure of child sexual abuse is not easy and the workshops are opportunities for children to disclose safely and with trained people.

August is women’s month and another workshop by Information Empowers! will be presented at a workshop for women. We are privileged that victim empowerment groups are learning more about our workshops and that news is spreading.


FCS - Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units

I received the following email from MP Debbie Schaffer and it is with great happiness that I share it with you that these specialized units are being reinstated throughout the country.
The Child Protection Units [CPU] were disbanded in 2006 and moved out to the local police stations. This caused them to become ineffective. The return of the FCS Units is something many South Africans have fought for and it is now happening.

Newly appointed National Commissioner of Police, Bheki Cele, stated on the Redi Direko Show on Monday that his strategy will be to empower these specialised units once again and ensure that they work closely with communities. We wait and pray that this is the strategy and that it will be enforced.


STATEMENT BY DEBBIE SCHAFER, MP
DA DEPUTY SHADOW MINISTER OF POLICE
Return of specialised FCS units is well overdue
Release, immediate: Wednesday, July 22, 2009

The Democratic Alliance (DA) applauds today’s announcement that Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units will be reintroduced. The DA has repeatedly, since 2006, advocated the reintroduction of FCS units, even while the ANC has set about centralising the entire Police Service, and disbanding specialised and semi-autonomous units. These specialised units are central to our safety and security policy framework, and their return is well overdue.


Spread the word and keep the message going…
Thank you to those who have already sent these updates on to colleagues and friends. This is how things happen! Incredible, caring people who want to make a change in the lives of ordinary South Africans can and have made a difference already – just by sending it on. You never know if a friend of a friend is in a position to do something to help.

I leave you with this quote which I absolutely love…
In answering the question: “What is my obligation to the world?” CG Jung said:
“We owe ethical behaviour so that we may live in a society which supports each person’s possibilities. And we owe the world the contribution of our best selves. It is in our uniqueness, our special talent or capacity or calling that we add to the richness of the world.”

Please contact me with feedback or suggestions.
Enjoy the month and stay warm.

Lots of love




Norah Papanicolaou
Founder
Information Empowers!
because every child matters
and
for The Zoe Project
norah@xsinet.co.za

7 July Update by Norah Papanicolaou

Hello Everybody

My humble apologies for only sending the update now. I’m running a couple of projects at the same time and sometimes it is difficult for me to get to everything at once.
It is July holidays and before we know it, it is Christmas. I hope you have all taken some time to spend with your family.

Thank you to the following contributors:
Arlene J., Dr Lara S., Bronwyn H., Marlene H., Jane and Sebastian D., Nikki A., Sandy S.,
Sharon W., Heather M., Sheena H., Michael P., Anna J., Kirsten H., Annette C-N., Johnathan A., Guy W., Constantia Pharmacy, Sue [New Beginnings Clinic], Julie and Greg B., Samuel G. and Luke C.

Your contributions this month have again proved to me that magical moments and miracles do happen. The amount of clothing and household items that
we have been able to give to the safe houses this month has been great. Funny how I had just enough toys for the children at Place of Hope – there are 32 little children
and we had 34 toys. Each of these children now has something of their own to cuddle and name. I have also appealed to everyone that if they know a plumber or a plumbing company who would assist with fixing the giant leak at Place of Hope in Crawford to give me a call, and I know that somewhere someone will assist us in helping them out.

The food that has gone to the Retreat Maternity Clinic is indeed a blessing. We had a meeting last month and we were told that from the beginning of July 2009
the moms will only be given 1 dry Provita and a cup of soup as the meal for the day by the clinic. They have been given a couple of packets of Oats-so-Easy and a box of Jungle Oats and this must last through the month. This boggles the mind as this is supposed to be sustenance for moms who have given birth as well as the Kangaroo moms who are breastfeeding their babies.

The freezer is in place but at the moment it only holds 40 x 250gram margarine tubs filled with soup. I know that we will get someone to make more soup to be frozen and given to the women.

I would like to thank Guy Wood and the Constantia Pharmacy especially this month, because they have donated some incontinence sheets. The clinic had run out and their delivery wasn’t scheduled until a couple of days later. The nursing staff was assisting moms giving birth and they had nothing to put under the babies when they were born. Guy and his team helped us in giving them a more hygienic entry into life. I think it is wonderful that local businesses are recognizing the need in poorer communities.

Information Day on 13th June 2009

Thank you to those of you who joined us. I know you have all learnt a bit more about the Zoe Project and everything we are involved in – more than I can ever write in an email.
To those who couldn’t make it, here is a little update.

The Zoe Project is growing arms and legs – as with all good things.

Bethany from BABY SAFE told us about the safe for babies. Let me explain. With the magnitude of babies being dumped in bins and toilets and open fields, an engineer in the States came up with the idea of creating a safe place for moms who don’t want their babies, to safely leave the babies. This is not something that is advertised as it is a sensitive issue and we don’t want people to think that this is now a ‘way out’. Baby safe was engineered to work in the following way:
It is located in Fish Hoek and when someone opens the door and places the baby inside the ‘safe’, a sensor goes off which is attached to an alarm system. The alarm system works like the one you have at home. It starts phoning telephone numbers. There are at least 3 people on call at a time and the first call it makes is to a private security company who is there within 3 minutes. So, the baby who has now been abandoned is not alone for longer than 3 minutes.

The other people who are contacted by the ‘sensor’ are emergency care and the counselors who place the baby in emergency foster care or hospital – should there be a need to do so.
This is the most incredible technology I’ve heard of in a long time. There are only 2 baby safes in South Africa. The one in Fish Hoek hasn’t been used yet, but it is there as an alternative option to just dumping your unwanted baby in a field.

Tracey spoke about the wonderful help we’ve received from members of King of Kings Baptist Church. They have undertaken to look after very young moms and their babies, and re-introduce them to the community after they have given birth and in some cases, gone through rehabilitation. It is not easy for us to understand about the difficulties experienced by someone who is in a state of despair. The ladies at the church take the young girls into their care, counsel them and help them find their place in the world again. They are doing a tremendous job and are filling a need where no one else is available to help.

Sister Lynda Smith, Manager of the Retreat MOU spoke about the wonderful support that her staff has received from the Zoe Project personnel - Just making their work so much easier. The gratitude of these women who work so hard and under such difficult situations is over whelming. They shine even under pressure and it is all because of working together with caring people. Without that, the Zoe Project would not be as successful as it is. I would like to add that each of you is helping in this. Please remember this on the days that you’re feeling down or not sure about yourself. You are an incredible support, anonymous though it is, to an incredible bunch of women.

A Radio Station from the United States has come to hear about the Zoe Project. They have contacted us and are interested promoting our cause in the States. The technicalities of this still need to be worked out and it will take a while before anything materializes. But it is great news as the Zoe Project and the work we do is gaining an international name.

I invited an honoured guest, DA ward counselor Denis Joseph joined us at the information day. He has rallied the DA Ladies Alliance to provide soup twice a month to the people who visit the Retreat Maternity clinic. With approximately 450 registrations per month and the additional average of 200 births per month, that is a lot of people to feed. Thank you Denis and Harriet for your sincere interest in the community and wanting to make a difference where you can. The first soup day was Friday, 3rd July and according to Sister Lynda, it went really well.

Our vision…
The ultimate vision and goal of The Zoe Project is to have a safe house and baby house of our own. There are a hand full of baby houses and safe houses in Cape Town. I visit them often and many of them are in a state of disrepair. They all need funding, they all need help. They are all providing an incredible service to humanity and improving the lives of so many people. Our goal is to provide this. And it will happen when the time is ready and everything is in place.

The Zoe Project as an example…
We endeavour to assist other clinics in other areas to do the same work we do at Retreat. This is huge – the main criteria for this working, is that people who are passionate about helping others need to work together. This is the main ingredient of our success so far.

Births at the clinic this month….
There were 214 births at the clinic during June 09. I have been privileged to witness births and I am telling you, it IS a portal for souls to enter this world. Watching a baby being born is a miracle that cannot be compared to anything. The endorphins that pulse through the body of the mother enable them to go through the pain of birth and immediately love that child. That baby crying for the first time is the most beautiful sound in the world.

Information Empowers!
Although Information Empowers! is separate from the Zoe Project, we link in because of the people we help. I am proud to say that Information Empowers has developed workshops about child sexual abuse for children and adults which are currently being used by 3 Victim Empowerment groups in the Western Cape. I have also just finished a workbook that ties in with the workshops and it has proved to be an additional tool in fighting child sexual abuse and helping victims and non-victims become empowered. There are a couple of workshops and workbooks in development at the moment and it is all very exciting knowing that we are helping those who are most vulnerable. Thank you so much to those people who have been supporting me with their encouragement and love.

I hope I haven’t left anything out. I know this has been a very long email filled with news, and I’d like to receive feedback. Anything positive you would like to share with the moms or the staff of the clinic, please email me and I will pass the message on to them.

I would like to leave you with this thought:
Individuals CAN make the difference – even if you think that your little bit is too little: it is helping someone with nothing. You ARE making a difference.

Thank you and lots of love and many blessings





Norah Papanicolaou
For the Zoe Project
Information Empowers!
Because every child matters.
norah@xsinet.co.za

UPDATE 01 JUNE 2009

Hello Everybody

Welcome to June 2009. I am inspired on a daily basis by the amount of people who want to help those in a less fortunate
position than themselves. I am inspired by small kindnesses that are shown daily and I am grateful for being part of a humanity
where people still care enough to want to do something to change the lives of others.

Thank you to the following contributors…
Arlene J, Dr Lara S, Bronwyn H, Marlene H., Alexandra F., Jane and Sebastian D., Lorette G.,
Sandy S., Sharon W., Heather M., Colleen W., Rene G., Donna C., Anne W., Anna J., Kirsten H.,
Annette C-N., Johnathan A., Fiona B., Michael P., Anonymous Friends at the New Beginnings Clinic AND Anonymous Friends at Monterey Pre-Primary School

Thank you for your contributions. No matter how small, they are well received and very much appreciated.


A Personal Acknowledgment to a Special Friend…

I would like to acknowledge a friend of mine, who has taken the initiative and started a sandwich tray for the HIV/AIDS patients at the False Bay hospital. She makes peanut butter and jam sandwiches DAILY and personally gives it to those patients who wait to receive their medication. She has also taken it upon herself to provide paper and crayons
to keep the children busy while they wait for their mothers at the hospital. Thank you Jane D. for what you are doing.

I know that you are a very humble person and I thought that some acknowledgement and voice of appreciation would be in order.

Births at the clinic during May 09…
There were 205 babies born during May – again no breakdown of boy-to-girl ratio, but yes, more boys than girls when I am there!
The age of the youngest mother is 16 years old, [and there was only one 16-year old last month] and the oldest mom, is 42.

Safe houses and baby houses…
I don’t know if any of you saw the article in the Cape Times a couple of weeks back. It was about Sisters’ Incorporated in Kenilworth.
This is one of the safe houses we use for our clients. Sisters’ is one of the better facilities in that, amongst other things, receive food on a regular basis from
corporate contributors. The article dealt with the fact that their contributors are pulling back and that they are struggling with expenses.

At the same time, thanks to the generosity of your contributions, they are able to assist families who have escaped from violent situations
to establish a new life for themselves. Continued donations of household equipment, linen, cutlery and crockery, as well as 2nd hand baby
and women’s clothes help the safe houses support these women and children.
Please keep these items and our safe houses and baby houses in mind when you do clean-ups of your cupboards.
[Sisters’ Incorporated is one of a couple of safe houses that we partner. We also make use of the baby houses available in Cape Town.]


Pass on the message…
Our message has been passed on to people in France! I am not saying more about this as yet, but I have been in contact with someone
who shows interest in the Zoe Project and will continue to fill you in should more come of it.
So, please continue to send on these emails to your friends and colleagues and family – you never know who may be able to help.

There is a lovely long weekend coming up in June. Remember, the kids are off school on Monday 15th June. Spend time together, enjoy your families and have fun.

Until next time, lots of love and warmth to you all





Norah Papanicolaou

Update 19th May 09 - This is why we help those who can't help themselves right now.

Hello Everybody

May month is here and it has been a bit of a bumpy ride trying to make up all the days of holiday during April.
Thank you so much to the following contributors…

Arlene J, Jane and Sebastian D, Lorette G, Sandy S, Sharon W, Heather M, Ingrid R, Dr Lara S,
Bronwyn H, Marlene H, Rene G, Donna C, Michael P, Tamlin and Benjamin B, Claudine G, Anna J, Kirsten H, Annette C-N, Johnathan A, Jo D, The Anonymous Parents At Monterey Pre-Primary, The Anonymous Friends at the New Beginnings Baby Clinic.

Thank you for the contributions – you have made the difference in the lives of people who don’t have much and who are going through really tough times… for example:

The 17 year old having her 2nd child by her own father – both kids removed and given up for adoption
The heroin addicted, 16 year old who lay with labour pains in a semi-comatose state
The mother who decides to give her 4th child up for adoption because she cannot afford another and her husband is on tik and she desperately
wants something better for her new baby
The 12 year old who was raped by the ‘uncle down the road’ – whose child is given up for adoption and for whom ongoing counseling is given
The fetal alcohol syndrome babies born to moms who are alcohol dependant, and who have nowhere else to go to give birth
The mom who cannot feed another child and knows that giving it up for adoption gives that child a chance in life
The countless beautiful babies born perfect and imperfect in the eyes of society – those whose lives are difficult in ways you and I cannot imagine…

I thank you on their behalf and would like to say to you all – well done!!! You are helping someone in some small way.
[I would like to add that the examples mentioned above are all getting professional help from people in the various medical and psychological fields.]

Births at the clinic …
There were 208 babies born at the Retreat Maternity Clinic in the month of April. I am still not able to give you a breakdown of
boy to girl ratio, but I have noticed that on the days I am there, there are usually more boys than girls in the ward.

Unwanted Household items…

Should you have any unwanted, working household electrical appliances, linen, curtains or good second hand clothing for women and children/babies – please let me know and I will collect them from you. These will all go to the many baby houses and safe houses that we use. One request though, please ensure that all clothing is washed and clean.

Pass on the message – spread the word…

Please continue passing on my emails to your friends and colleagues – it really helps. A lot of people who may not be able to contribute, know of others who can.
I am available to answer questions, via email or telephone. My contact details are at the bottom of each email.


Information Empowers!….
I am proud to say that I have launched the information empowers project at the Freedom Day march in Delft, on 27th April.
Thousands of people and NGO’s and NPO’s and organisations showed up to support the fight against child sexual abuse.
It was humbling walking with people from the community of Delft and hearing about the situation, particularly there.
There are many ordinary people in this specific community who do wonderful work – they just need more help.
Delft is one in many communities where this epidemic is real.

So far, I have written and developed 3 brochures which are available in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. [3rd Brochure only in English and Afrikaans]. And there are still many in development, along with stories for children and workbooks.
Should you wish to get a copy of these brochures, please email me your snail mail address and I will post it to you.


And last, but not least, to all of you, a very Happy Mothers’ Day on Sunday.
Enjoy your children and enjoy your mothers.

Lots of love as always




Norah Papanicolaou