Projects to date:

When we started FCP, we began by supporting the Child Protection Units (CPU), which have since been renamed Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units (FCS). The CPU’s only received the most basic support from the South African government and rarely had the bare necessities to carry out their duties. We provided various resources to equip them to do their jobs more effectively and more compassionately.

As the units often lacked comfortable and attractive facilities for the hungry, cold and frightened children who were taken there after the most terrifying experiences of their lives, we started to furnish and equip child-friendly Trauma Rooms.

At the CPU’s request, we began to pack and provide Comfort Packs and Food Parcels.

Due to the desperate need we saw for counseling, we provided funds to train 25 Forensic Social Workers and to offer debriefing and counseling for the Investigating Officers.

Through our work with the CPU’s we came into contact with other small organizations in the Child Protection System and we began to support them as funds became available. We helped finance summer camps for abused teenage girls, and we provided them with food and clothing.

In May 2008 we purchased a Child-Abuse Prevention and Treatment centre for a Grass Roots organization in Cape Town called Safeline. Safeline provides much-needed services to the disadvantaged communities in the Western Cape; in this new centre, Safeline will offer Therapy and Counseling, Prevention and Awareness Programs and provide a 24-hour crisis hotline for victims of abuse and children at risk.

Projects for the future:

We would like to increase the number of Comfort Packs that we prepare monthly, so as to give them to as many traumatized children as possible. We have had an overwhelming response from victims who’ve received them and from people who’ve seen their positive effects.

Although the management of the FCS Units has changed, we hope to continue providing resources to them, because we feel they exert the greatest influence in the Child Protection System. If they are more effective, they will increase the potential for successful criminal prosecution – and hence the prevention of further abuse.

We also want to increase our support of Grass Roots Organisations that have specialised projects to help abused children. We have met many people who want to contribute to worthy organizations but need to know that their funds will be wisely invested in projects that are effective and transparent. We want to present information about these organizations to foreign communities in the hope of channeling funds to them.