CharitySA.co.za - New BeginningZ

Non-Profit Organisation Registration Number: NPO 017-243

Public Benefit Organisation Number: PBO 930 011 817

Established: March 2001

Kindly contact New Beginningz directly for banking details.

For the past 5 years we are fully accredited members of an umbrella organization called T.A.S.C. - Tshwane Alliance for Street Children. We are a Place of Safety for Abandoned, Abused and Neglected Babies.

FOCUS AREA:
Children living and working on the streets in and around Laudium, Atteridgeville and neighbouring areas e.g. Centurion. Programmes include a prevention and early intervention program, outreach, finding shelters, school enrolments, family reunification (where possible) and post-reunification services e.g. food hampers, school uniforms, etc. We’ve also just recently started with a new project that assists pregnant teenagers in the community with all related issues and basic childcare training.

WE NEED:
All organisations desperately need financing in the NGO sector but sometimes people’s time and voluntary efforts contribute to a great extent too. We accept any form of donation but our biggest concern at the moment is suitable premises within the community to accommodate the various programmes on a full time basis.

More information on New BeginningZ:

Background:

NBZ 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 we included Child Headed Households to our focus group and in 2004 we had to include yet another vulnerable group: Abandoned babies and toddlers. We cater for children between the ages of newborn up to 18 years. It is of paramount importance to us to render services and programs that is in the best interest of every individual child that we 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.

Street Children:

We are a member organisation of The Tshwane Alliance for Street Children which is an umbrella organisation for Residential, Non-residential, Outreach, Prevention & Early Intervention programs. NBZ does not have a residential care facility for children living, working and begging on the streets and thus places the children that we come in contact with through the various member shelters of TASC. Here children receive more than just the basic necessities of life. The ultimate long term goal is to reunite these children with their families or extended families and reintroduce them back into their communities as productive citizens contributing to our country’s economy. However, before this is possible there is a long and difficult road a holistic team of caregivers and other professionals must walk with these children through their trauma and rehabilitation.

Orphans & Vulnerable Children (including Child Headed Households):

Through our work in the various communities, we come across many desperate and destitute children in desperate need of assistance. Two of our focus areas are Prevention and Early Intervention. A number of children need short term intervention whilst other might require long term, intensive assistance and we offer this in various ways. Some of the programs include Bi-monthly Food Parcels, Education, Statutory Work through Social Workers, Mediation, Placement, Court procedures, Grant applications etc.

Thuto Ke Lesedi is a crèche in an informal settlement, Iterileng, that we assist whenever we can through sponsorships. This Day Care facility looks after children from the community whether the parents can afford to pay school fees or not. Some parents make use of this facility during the day so that they can look for employment. Although it is not the best of ECD centres, it does make a difference. In the future we are hoping to move this project onto premises of its own as it is currently actually a church which makes it impossible to properly equip the centre. We have a possible corporate funder who is willing to sponsor this but we are still negotiating.

Babies:

Majority of people ask me “How can a mother abandon her child”? There is no easy answer to this and every mother has her own reasons for doing so and regardless of your religion, you have no right to pass judgment on these women. Some of them have been raped, sometimes even by a father, brother, other close relatives, teachers, people they should’ve been able to trust. Instead they were betrayed, fell pregnant and are petrified. Many of them don’t even report the rape out of fear of the perpetrator, their community or their families. Can you imagine what it would be like to have to look into the child’s face and be reminded of the terrible ordeal you had to go through when that little child was conceived? To be reminded everyday whilst trying to love and care for that baby is something that only the strongest of strong would be able to do. Therefore, the only other option is abandonment unfortunately. Yes, the moms who leave their babies at hospital thought it through rather than just dump him or her in a dustbin or veld or flush them down a toilet. Sometimes this is also in sheer desperation and confusion. This is where NBZ wants to make a difference.

“But why yet another baby project”? Well, the answer is easy. The need out there is so great that we can no longer turn our backs on this pandemic. It is our duty to try and make a difference.

Recently Launched: “Baby Wall”. A wall with a slot where desperate mothers can safely leave unwanted babies rather than dumping them in dustbins, toilets, pit latrines, parks or streets. We want to offer desperate mothers and destitute babies a safe alternative. “The Baby Wall”… This structure is basically a wall with a big post box where unwanted babies can be left anonymously, no questions asked. As many of the babies we work with come from Sunnyside this was the perfect area to have a facility like this. The Baby Wall was officially opened on the 10th March 2008.

Working in isolation is not beneficial to us or the families and children we help. Networking ensures access to a range of resources and services as well as added expertise. Therefore we join hands with the various organisations we have longstanding relations with and build new ones as we go along.

However, without the invaluable assistance from various donors, this will all just remain a dream. The harsh reality of abandoned, abused, neglected and orphaned babies is something we can no longer ignore.

NBZ appeals to all to open their hearts, take our hands, join forces, to do whatever is necessary to make a difference in the lives of these precious little Angels God has entrusted to us to care and protect.

Special Care Babies:

I often receive babies who need Specialised Short Term Care. These little ones are either Premature Babies or LBW (low birth weight). These babies are very small and need constant care and attention as there are many medical implications that can arise. “Kangaroo Mother Care” or KMC is very important for Premmies for various reasons. This means that these babies are wrapped against your body in a soft material “Thari” almost 24hours a day. With the proper loving care these babies pick up weight quickly and if there are no other medical complications they are placed up for Adoption or Foster Care, usually once they reach the 4kg mile stone.

Urgent Needs:

Due to the increasing numbers of abandoned babies in need of love, care and attention we urgently need a 4 bedroom house to accommodate the little ones. We understand the financial implications of running a Haven like this but can you put a price on the lives of these children who have been deprived of so much. Apart from a house we also urgently need the services of a Social worker or Adoption worker on a half day basis. This service is a legal requirement and if we had our own social worker we will be able to assess and place children faster. A Budget is available upon request.

Please do not hesitate to contact Tahiyya Hassim should you need any additional information.