Sebenza Donate a Doll for Christmas to Vulnerable Children

The rationale behind Sebenzais to create employment for women in rural areas. It is also about offering support groups for them to address social ills that impinge on them directly (abuse, pregnancies, violence), and providing them with basic necessities (sanitary pads, health packs and condoms).It is about giving them optimal opportunities to earn an income and become financially self-dependent. Beneficiaries are divided into groups who meet weekly and are granted the opportunity to apply their creative skills in all kinds of needle work and the production of beautifully crafted objects. These include exquisite girls’ and women’s dresses, scarves, socks, gloves, jerseys, handbags, shoes, dolls and dolls’ clothes, quilts, the stringing of beads, and beautifying existing objects through embroidery/painting. These ladies are from the towns of Alice, Fort Beaufort (Eastern Cape) (200 ladies) and George and Oudtshoorn (Western Cape) (10 ladies).

Once the skills of individuals have been identified, they are divided into skills-based groups, to concentrate and co-operate on the production of marketable merchandise. Young women are mentored by successful professional women from their community. The women are empowered, equipped and envisioned for a positive, healthy and HIV-free or positive life reducing their vulnerability to rape, gender violence and unplanned pregnancy. Our support groups focus on challenges faced by the girls/women on a daily basis.

To this end, they have created the Sebenza doll which we have started to distribute to orphanages in South Africa. The smile on those children's faces when they receive their own personalised doll is priceless. Each doll is made by hand and looks different than the next, they are also given names.

In 2018 we were able to donate 100 dolls to underprivileged kids in orphanages, so far this year we were able to donate a further 50 dolls. We would like to expand that number to reach at least 1000 – 2000 children.

Our goal for 2019 is to donate 1000-2000 dolls to vulnerable children in rural areas which we have already recognised. Thanks to generous sponsors, we are well on our way to reaching our goal, but we still need help supporting another 1800 children. Will you help us meet our goal to provide these wonderful children of South Africa with a personalised doll filling their hearts with joy and at the same time supporting our women and girls of South Africa. Your donation will have a dramatic impact on the life of a young child. Each doll is packaged and hand-delivered to the children.