Three fathers are training for a big dive and an extreme swim for a worthy cause! Together, they will tackle the Robben Island Crossing in an effort to support an NGO that is an important voice against child abuse.
Cape Town, South Africa (19 March, 2024)—Facing the icy waters of Cape Town’s Robben Island Crossing for the first time on 24 April are dads Werner van Geer, Jacques Kannemeyer and Andre Kannemeyer from Quicksilver Swimming Club Durbanville. Together, they will tackle a big dive and an extreme swim to take a stand against child abuse.
The dad trio will be swimming in support of Matla A Bana—an NGO that stands firmly as a voice against child abuse.
While the men are avid swimmers and underwater hockey players, they are also parents who care. For them, the opportunity to use their water skills to make a positive impact is not only an effort for Matla A Bana, but for all vulnerable children who should know that there are people willing to fight for them.
Matla A Bana coordinates numerous initiatives focused on awareness and important resources. Some of these include implementing Child Friendly Reporting Facilities and providing training for specialised detectives of the SA Police Service, as well as providing Comfort packs for children reporting crimes. All of these contribute significantly to the support and protection of child victims.
The focus on Comfort Packs is especially important, as this marks the beginning of what can be a traumatic reporting process in and of itself. The packs require high-quality items as the reporting process can take up to 12 hours. All items are carefully selected to provide nutrition, comfort (a teddy bear), occupy the child (colouring books and crayons), toiletries to restore dignity and new underwear after the evidence collection. Also included is a Survival Guide used by the social forensic worker to assist the child on their healing journey.
The dad swimmers’ goal is to reach R30,000, which would make a direct impact on the lives of approximately 100 children reporting sexual abuse within the Western Cape over a two-month period.
You can find the BackaBuddy campaign here!
Sources: Supplied; Matla A Bana
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