Nompumelelo “Pamela” Mchunu was unwilling to accept the systemic failure that leads to child abandonment so she teamed up with “The Peace Agency”, and started a national support service called Babyline!
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (26 October 2022) – Nompumelelo “Pamela” Mchunu is no ordinary 34-year-old. She is an extraordinarily motivated and passionate social worker on an extraordinary mission; to end child abandonment in South Africa.
Nompumelelo doesn’t often sleep too well at night. She is haunted by the faces of the approximately 3,500 babies who are abandoned every year in South Africa, and by the fact that 2,500 of these will die. She is haunted by the faces of the 3,500 desperate Mums who are often faced with this most devastating thought; my baby will be better off without me.
Nompumelelo was unwilling to accept the systemic failure that leads to this horrific human tragedy. So, she teamed up with non-profit organisation, The Peace Agency, and started a national support service called Babyline. This is the vulnerable mums and babies equivalent of the superb telephone counselling service for children – Childline.
At all times of the day and night, women in the most unimaginable distress call, WhatsApp, or Facebook Babyline and Nompumelelo listens and counsels, providing love, care, options and practical solutions for immediate and ongoing support.
Her first prize? Provide each mum with a support network in her area that will enable her to keep her baby. If that is not the mum’s wish (or the best option for the baby), the baby can be placed into safe care until other plans are made for her and her Mum.
What Nompumelelo knows is that countless South African women are victims of a system that has let them down at every turn and that unless we join together and care for them, babies will continue to be abandoned and their mum’s lives destroyed.
Since the launch of Babyline some 18 months ago, Nompumelelo has counselled hundreds of distressed women across the country. She has referred them to hospitals, psychologists, other social workers, places of worship, other NPO’s – whatever their unique situation demands. She has fed, clothed found shelter and even jobs for mums, to assist them in caring for themselves and their babies. She follows up on each woman’s case until it is successfully resolved. She is dealing a significant, systemic blow to the horror of child abandonment.
South Africa needs Babyline to succeed and grow. If you would like to support the work of Babyline by becoming a network partner or donor, please email Nompumelelo on babylinehelp@gmail.com or call/WhatsApp her on 079 276 1077 or 082 069 9067.
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