Beneficiaries
2006 - WAR (Women against Rape)
2009 - Timios
Today we saved a child
Many children in South Africa are neglected and abused and never know the love and care of a family. At Timios we are committed to changing this and impacting children’s lives in a positive manner, making a real difference.
Timios Homes provides families for abused, orphan and vulnerable children through foster care and private places of safety. We are specialist in identifying and preparing suitable parents to take care of children in need. Our services also focus mainly on the child in need and ensuring that these children receive the best physical, medical and psychological care. Most of all we endeavor to give love and security to a child, within a family environment. Timios believe and strive in giving these children a voice again and restore their trust in people.
We are excited about forming a partnership with you and believe that together we can make an even bigger difference in the lives of children.
New Beginnings has been in operation since 2001, with the main focus being Children living and working on the streets. In 2003, due to HIV/Aids Pandemic they included Child Headed Households to their focus group and in 2004 they had to include yet another vulnerable group…… Abandoned babies and toddlers. They cater for children between the ages of newborn up to 18 years. It is of paramount importance to them to render services and programs that is in the best interest of every individual child that they deal with. Just as soon as you think you’ve seen the worst of cases, you come across yet another one. Abusers don’t discriminate against colour, creed or age. Child Abuse is rife in our country and unfortunately not nearly enough is being done to protect the future of our country, the children. Government is shirking their responsibility when it comes to providing for destitute families therefore making it increasingly difficult for the poorest of the poor to survive. Abuse & Poverty are the main contributing factors to street children and abandoned baby statistics in our country.
One of the problems they highlighted was the plight of Abandoned Babies. They are found in plastic bags, boxes, parks, public toilets, dustbins and sometimes just left on the side of the road.
Some might ask: But how can mothers abandon their babies? The answer is not an easy one, but from our previous work experience we have realised that these mothers sometimes feel they have no other options. Sometimes, the girls who are involved in Commercial Sex Exploitation have their newborn babies taken away and dumped by their Pimps in order for the girls to continue work almost immediately. Others are young teenage girls who are fearful of what their families might say and do to them and there are those who have been raped or part of an incestuous relationship and cannot begin to imagine how they are going to cope with a little child conceived in violence.
These babies are helpless little victims, innocent bystanders who did not ask to be subjected to the hardships they face, and this is where Round Table together with New BeginningZ would like to make a difference. The babies who are found alive are the lucky ones, but what about those babies who have had their lives stolen away from them by being suffocated in a plastic bag or frozen to death in a dustbin. And in our community this is unfortunately the harsh reality we are faced with far too many times as we come across dead babies.
It doesn’t have to end like this for all of them though. What if we could provide some alternative solution for these desperate mothers? A safe place where they can leave their babies safely and anonymously.
A place like the “New BeginningZ Baby Door”.
The one girl’s shelter in particular was the project where we envisage the “The New BeginningZ Baby Door”. What is the “Baby Door” you might ask? Well, basically it is a square gap or hole in a wall with a hatch where desperate mothers can safely leave their unwanted babies. The person would lift the hatch and place the baby in the receiving bassinet which will press down on the hidden silent alarm button located directly beneath it. Although the person dropping the baby will not be able to hear the alarm, it will sound in the housemother’s room to alert her that there is a baby. She will immediately go and fetch the baby from the hatch regardless of time of day or night. We foresee that most will utilize the “Baby Door” at night.
How will people be informed of this service that is available? We will start the first phase by printing information leaflets and distributing them at clinics, schools, shops and perhaps even abortion clinics if possible. The second phase will entail the media like local community newspapers, and perhaps later even city newspapers.
What will happen to the baby once taken out from the “Baby Door”? Once the housemother has contacted Mrs. Tahiyya Hassim, she will fetch the baby and depending on the child’s state of health, will take the baby home to the New BeginningZ babies unless the child needs immediate medical attention.
Some babies are healthy and some need urgent medical care. There are state hospitals that we work with that will assess the baby or admit the baby if necessary, alternatively the baby will see one of the volunteer paediatricians or doctors who assist New BeginningZ. Because majority of babies are abandoned without any further information, there are so many things we do not know for example their HIV status, what milk they drink, whether their mothers are addicted to drugs or other substances and these are all issues that will have an effect on the overall health and condition of the baby.
As New BeginningZ does not work in isolation, babies will be referred to other organisations that have a network of Place of Safety Parents and Foster Parents while social workers attend to the statutory processes of making the baby available for adoption.
According the new Children’s Act it is illegal for a child to be placed in a Place of Safety without a Form 4 which only a registered social worker or a police officer can complete. Sunnyside Police Station is the precinct that serves our community and as New BeginningZ have done their training again recently, they are aware of the legal implications and know how to complete a Form 4. They will assist us in this matter and the case will be referred to one of the Social Workers the next day or the first working day.
As with all abandoned babies, there is a process that takes place before babies are able to be adopted. If a mother decided that she had made a mistake and she want the child back, or the baby was abandoned by someone else, there is a 60day window period where they can come forward and claim the baby. It is not just a simple matter of handing the child back to the mother or biological father or some extended family member, the social workers will have to investigate their circumstances first and establish whether it is in fact in the child’s best interest to be reunified with them. Alternatively the mother can also decide to legally sign the baby off for adoption with the necessary paperwork or through a social worker, as this will make the adoption process easier.
As the system is very basic and low cost, future maintenance of the “Baby Door” will be minimal and we will find local sponsors if the need arises. In terms of the sustainability of the project itself, once other donors see what a huge demand there is for a service like this and the invaluable service New BeginningZ render, they will also contribute. Due to the current inefficiency of our government to assist the needy and destitute, there will unfortunately always be a growing need for services such as this to be rendered by NGO's (Non Governmental Organisations).
This is our opportunity to once again make a difference to our local community and we are looking forward to this life saving project.
Affordable Medical care should be a right of any human being. Yet costs are rocketing out of control, and the government of the day is closing down clinics. Chronically ill patients are being treated at home due to high costs of hospitals. Home care givers are becoming more and more. These care givers are often without proper knowledge pertaining to chronic disease and or wounds. Children and elderly alike are rotting away due to improper treatment.
I am a member of Round-Table and I want to make a difference in my community. I am a South-African citizen, and I am aware of all the beauty, splendor and opportunities of this country – and I am aware of the problems this country is faced with. I know that if we as a nation want to prosper we have to address the problems we are faced with. I am aware that if I sit around and wait for the government to address the problematic issues of the day and not do anything myself – it might become too late. This is why I joined a community service club. I joined Round Table because I believe that by simply throwing money at a problem, I won’t get the opportunity to fully understand the need of those I am trying to help, and my potential to serve exceed my bank balance. You must understand that I volunteer my services purely because I believe that I am blessed.
| Round Table has taken the initiative in assisting with the launch of this foundation. |
2006 - WAR (Woman Against Rape)
Woman Against Rape encourages all South Africans to exercise their rights by teaching them that their bodies and spirits are sacred. No other person may violate these rights in any manner. In the event of violation or abuse, all South African victims have a right to be heard and counselled through empathetic and skilled care.
It is W.A.R's vision to aid the many children and adults who are victim to rape and sexual assault.
COMFORT PARCELS
Integral to W.A.R.’s ministry is the delivery of ‘Comfort Parcel’s’ to South African Police Stations in the greater Gauteng Metropolitan. W.A.R. intends to expand this offering nationwide. The ‘Comfort Parcel’ is intended to re-instill a sense of self worth back into the victim and traditionally contains clean underwear, sanitary towels, toiletries, a teddy bear and a chocolate.
| In 2006 with the help of our audience we donated R195 000.00 to WAR in the form of comfort packs for rape victims. |
The auction is a regular in our show which gives you the audience a chance to select the numbers which you enjoyed the most and to view them a second time in one evening. This is done in the form of a true to life auction, where all we ask is that you donate any amount, big or small and name the number of your choice. Usually the top three to five numbers are performed again. All proceeds of the auction go to the beneficiary for the year, this years' beneficiary being Wound Care.
Every cent raised will help improve or save the life of someone special. The whistler and Mime band take great pride in getting the most votes for their numbers, but in recent years the cast is fierce competition with them.
So come along and enjoy the fun and competition, by opening your hearts and by giving generously - no matter how much! Let's give the Whistler a run for his money!
After all "laughter is the best medicine" and the auction is your nearest "Pharmacy"
