A support group is effectively held once a week for the infected and affected folk in the coomunity.

As with any disease, support mechanisms around those affected can mean the difference between coping or not.

Coping skills, as well as stress management, healthy lifestyle and counselling will be addressed.

We are accredited child abuse counsellors, HIV counsellors and can be contacted about this service to the community.

Adrian was born on Christmas Eve, in the toilet of a building where a party was being held. Partygoers said they saw a young girl enter the building and leave a little while later. She had given birth, tied the baby in a black refuse bag and thrown him out of the building window. The policeman who answered the partygoers call for help called him Adrian, after himself. Adrian was brought to Shepherd’s Keep and was so tiny. It was clear he had lacked oxygen at birth, from being tied in the plastic bag, and although he thrived and was really happy, parents couldn’t be found for him because people realized he would have special needs. Cheryl managed to find a place for him in another home – although this wasn’t ideal – she could at least visit him and check that he was well. One of our volunteers had grown to really love Adrian and also visited him regularly. She applied to adopt him and came to visit recently to show us that any sign of abnormality had vanished – he could hold his head up and talked beautifully – Adrian was always so special and to see him so whole was an amazing reward. This family has been so touched by Adrian and his life has changed completely.

3 babies are abandoned every 48 hours in Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa.

In 2001, 874 babies were abandoned—that figure trebled in 2002 when 2186 babies were abandoned in KZN.

2003 had 2000 abandoned babies per month go through the welfare society of Durban.

Most babies are abandoned in municipal toilets, latrines and refuse bags.

This is mainly due to AIDS, poverty, unemployment.

34% of the KZN population is infected with AIDS. KZN have the most welfare agencies in the country and yet cannot cope. Most of these babies die, as a place of safety cannot be found in time to save them.

The situation is so critical that the newspapers have likened the dustbins in Durban to the GRAVEYARDS OF NEWBORN BABIES AND FOETUSES

The only folk willing to help are too poor to look after any added family and the government grants of R140-00 per month can be applied for, but take many many months to access.

Carte Blanche 6th July 2003
www.carteblanche.co.za

WHAT SHEPHERD'S KEEP IS DOING

Plans have been approved to provide a home for 60 babies.

And building work is now commencing!

While Shepherd's Keep does have pledges for some of the materials, funds are needed to finish the building and to provide for all the babies accessories. More...