Mandela Day: Care packs for rape survivors
RAPE Crisis will be doing their bit for Mandela Day when they give rape survivors care packs at Rosebank Methodist Church Hall on Saturday.
Communications co-ordinator Zeenat Hendricks said the care packs consist of important items such as soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, face cloth, underwear, scrub, shampoo, roll-on, tampons and sanitary towels. The contents of the packs were donated throughout the year.
They have 200 people who have signed up to help on the day, said Hendricks. The target is 400 volunteers, who will assist with packing 1 300 bags on the day. Dela Gwala, a volunteer in past drives, said: “Making the care packs and writing personalised messages was an emotional and worthwhile experience. Being able to tell people, especially the children, that they are believed and cared for in a personalised and practical way made the situation feel a little less hopeless, when it comes to assisting the survivors”.
The packs were handmade by the organisation’s “Change a Life Sewing Project,” one of the projects that helps survivors to receive skills. Hendricks said the care packs will be distributed to the three Thuthuzela Care hospitals: Victoria, Karl Bremer and Heideveld Day Hospital. There will be food stalls, a photo booth, face painting, arts and crafts, and more at the event, said Hendricks. To make a donation, go online to http://rapecrisis.org.za/donate/.
‘MAKING THE CARE PACKS AND WRITING PERSONALISED MESSAGES WAS A WORTHWHILE EXPERIENCE’