Mama Themba sees donors sending in adorable handmade clothing and blankets for new mothers in Somerset West and Stellenbosch.
Somerset West, South Africa (11 March 2024) — Mama Themba is a wholesome project serving new mothers and their newborns in the Somerset West and Stellenbosch communities. It provides these mothers with care packs filled with items needed to care for and clothe their babies and much-needed support in all things mom-related.
Mama Themba is run by the Thembalitsha Foundation. Frank and Katherine Christie registered the NPO in 1997, and the Mama Themba project was launched in 2006. Formerly known as the Bosom Buddies, the initiative grew into a successful project that provides prenatal care and counselling to new mothers.
The project is run by a small management and administration team, two peer counsellors (who speak three local languages) and over a hundred dedicated volunteers. They provide essential antenatal, breastfeeding, and postnatal education and support, as well as care packs filled with beloved, handmade items.
Support for these mothers and their babies follows the 1000-day concept, where a child’s development is most crucial within those first 1000 days.
“We equip and empower new mothers to be the best moms they can be for their children. In turn they become positive role models in their respective communities.”
There are many ways this project supports the new mom but one of the special ways is giving them a care pack filled with essentials. They are able to fill this with the continued support of donors. Each bag contains everything a new mom might need to take care of herself and keep her baby clean and warm. They welcome donations, including:
- Gently used/new baby clothing (0 – 3 months)
- Knitted jerseys, caps and booties (0 – 3 months)
- Baby blankets (polar fleece, knitted or crocheted)
- Sanitary pads/nappies/baby jelly/baby soap/baby lotions
The Helderberg Rotary Anns recently donated knitted jerseys for the upcoming winter months. These warm knits will make a huge difference during the Western Cape’s cold and rainy winter months.
You can find out more about Mama Themba by visiting the website here or following along on Facebook here.