Berea Congregational Church supports Operation Bobbi Bear ... and so should you!
About Operation Bobbi Bear:
Operation Bobbi Bear is a drop-off and information centre for child victims of sexual abuse. The centre is run by Jackie Branfield and Eureka Olivier.
It is a Non Profit Organisation (NPO# 015/208) relying solely on donations from the community to enable them to continue the valuable work done for sexually abused children.
Operation Bobbi Bear exists to:
* Rescue and uphold the rights of sexually abused children. * Minimise their risk of HIV infection. * Help them towards wholeness.
By regular visits to schools and venues throughout KZN, Bobbi Bear raises awareness and focuses on informing children of their rights and what to do in the case of abuse.
Apart from raising awareness, Operation Bobbi Bear assists sexual abuse victims from the time of reporting the abuse, until the court hearing. At point of rescue, a trained Child Safety Office gives the child a “rape bag” and two bears; one for information gathering and one to keep.
In the rape bag, the child is supplied with a permanent marker and plasters which are used on the bear, to communicate the nature of abuse. The bear is dated, signed by the Family Violence Child Abuse Sexual Offences Unit, the Child Safety Officer aswell as the caregiver. The bear is then bagged and used as evidence in court. The rape bag also contains refreshments while they wait at the police station and hospital, a fresh pair of panties/underpants, a pair of gloves, wet wipes and a sanitary pad. A Child Safety Officer (part of Bobbi Bear) will remain with the child victim throughout the entire process (from police station to hospital to court house), to protect the childs’ rights, to provide comfort, to keep them company and to prepare them for the next step.
Children who are abused by someone in their own home are removed to stay with ‘emergency foster parents’ until the perpetrator has been arrested. “Overnight bags” containing clothes and toiletries are handed to these children.
Operation Bobbi Bear are also involved with training Child Safety Officers who prepare the child victims for the court case. These CSO have a good knowledge of HIV/AIDS, abuse, legal issues and counseling.
Objectives:
*To collaborate with and assist the criminal justice system to ensure the rights and safety of the child victim of sexual abuse. *To assess HIV/AIDS risk of child victim at point of rescue, to intervene and counsel appropriately. *Applying counseling methods with use of “Bobbi Bear”, to target and obtain forensic facts and evidence, within the best interests of the child. *To empower local communities. *To train Child Safety Officers. *To equip and mobilize churches with training in HIV/AIDS and Pre- and Post-Test Counselling. *To increase awareness within local communities. *To provide practical, emotional, spiritual and financial support to victims of sexual abuse.
Projects run by Operation Bobbi Bear:
RESCUE CENTRE (Umbogintwini) : Drop-off and Information Centre for child victims of sexual abuse.
CHILD SAFETY OFFICER TRAINING : Using therapeutic methods to obtain forensic evidence, the Child Safety Officer collaborates with the criminal justice system to ensure the rights of child victim of sexual abuse. The Child Safety Officer is trained in Pre- and Post Test HIV/AIDS counselling to assess risk of child at point-of-rescue, and will assist and be accountable to child throughout legal process. To find out more, please visit http://www.bobbibear.org.za/safetyofficer.htm
HIV/AIDS TOY AWARENESS AND PREVENTION PROGRAMME FOR CHILDREN : Preventative Programme for pre-school children and older, who are taught universal precautions and identification of body fluids.
TREE CLINIC (Lower Illovo) : A meeting place to monitor vulnerable and orphaned children, to empower mother and child, and to grow awareness of HIV/AIDS, Wellness Management and Positive Living in community.
How can you help?Good question!
To continue their valuable work, Operation Bobbi Bear is in urgent need of assistance, either in the form of monetary donations (which are tax deductible) or contributions of needed items.
Should you have items to donate, please email or contact Kathy Retief on (031) 261-4056.
RAPE BAG * A4 fabric drawstring bag * Surgical gloves (for protection from infection) * Panties / Underpants (to replace soiled panties) * Tissues / Wet wipes (for after medico-legal examination) * Sanitary pads (for bleeding) * Brown paper bags (for items with DNA evidence) * Notebook size A5 * Blue ballpoint pen * Colouring pencils / crayons * Permanent /Laundry marker (to mark abuse on bear) * Plasters * Cooldrink (preferably cans) * Chips / Sweets / Dried fruit * Small teddy (optional)
BABY BAG (for abandoned & abused babies) *A4 fabric drawstring bag *Brown paper bag (for evidence) *Surgical gloves (for protection from infection) *2 Changes of baby clothes *Plastic bag (for soiled nappies) *3 Disposable nappies *Baby powder *Small Savlon *Baby soap *Vaseline *Face cloth *Tissues/Wet wipes *Baby bottle *Juice *Cot blanket *Small cuddle toy
OVERNIGHT BAG (for children at risk, who have to be removed from their homes) *A4 sized fabric drawstring bag *Surgical gloves (protection from infection) *Soap *Face cloth *Toothbrush *Comb *Small shampoo *Small Savlon *Talcum powder /Deodorant *Body lotion /Vaseline *Tissues/Wet wipes *Panties/Underpants
MISECELLANEOUS (these are for the fun 'fantasy play box') *Second-hand clothes/shoes *Old make-up *Old costume jewellery *Second-hand toys
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