Over the last few weeks I have been fortunate enough to witness the coming together of many people from different walks of life, ages and cultures. Each person has given selflessly of either their time, space or money – they have quite literally put their money where their mouth is insofar as stepping up to the plate, when needed.
Bags being delivered to Rape Crisis, from left Kath Dey, Vanessa Lynch & Francesca Lynch
The result of this collective energy is the delivery of over 200 handbags to various Rape Crisis and Trauma Centres in the Western Cape.
This will help to ensure that every Rape Survivor who receives a bag, will be shown dignity, care and respect at a time when it will be needed the most.
Francesca Lynch sorting out handbags at our offices
The DNA Project agreed to help deliver these handbags in the Western Cape following an appeal by the Jes Foord Foundation which it received earlier this year. Unfortunately, often empty and half filled handbags started arriving at our offices. My assistant, Maya and my sister in law, Francesca were roped in to help tackle the problem of not only filling, but sorting and delivering these bags to the various Rape Crisis centres. Without their tireless dedication, organisation and hard work, none of this would have been possible.
After appealling to a local school, the St Cyprian’s Grade 10 girls set about writing handwritten notes for each of the bags. Not only did they compose a caring note of
Grade 10's at St Cyprian's School writing notes for Rape Survivors
encouragement and care for each bag, but they hand made each card. The CEO of Cyberlogic, Edge Bisset, who works next door to our offices, curious about the boxes of handbags piling up in our small working space, rallied together his staff to get involved and in one day raised R6500 to buy items to fill the bags which were empty or half full. Our Landlord, Jon Maliepaard of enetworks offered us the much needed extra space to sort out the bags which were literally spilling out of my office!
Cyberlogic staff helping to load the boxes of bags ready for delivery
Within two weeks, each bag had been filled, packed sealed, labelled, itemised and delivered – all because a number of unconnected people, unwittingly connected to make it happen.
What better gift to give at a time of the year which in spite of inspiring love and kindness in most of us, seems to incite rage and violence in others (December and January records the highest number of violence against women and children).
Thank you to all of you who have made a difference to the life of a person whom you will never know and who can never repay you, but who will never forget your kindness.
Vanessa
Maya itemising and labeling each handbag
