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Women in action

By on April 29, 2009
The women around the table are not just good friends; they are a team collaborating on an important project to help children in need.  According to Friends of Child Protection (FCP), a charity based in South Africa, a violent crime against a child is reported every 6 minutes. These women aim to do something about it.“The important thing to remember,” FCP founder Kerrin Marcon emphasizes, “is that even though we face an overwhelming situation, every one of us has the power to affect the life of at least one child, whether it is through the donation of a comfort pack or of an entire crisis center.”One of the main functions of the charity is to intervene in the early hours after a child has been brutally violated. FCP does so by giving a Comfort Pack containing such things as a teddy bear to hold onto, a snack, some bubbles for therapeutic use, and desperately needed underwear and toiletries.  The charity also raises funds to support grassroots work, such as counseling victims, furnishing trauma rooms and providing much needed resources to the Child Protection Units.Debra Bajaj sits at the table because she realizes that circumstances allowed her to be born in Canada, and she feels fortunate to have what she does. “Just because I’m in Tokyo doesn’t mean I should not help these kids who need so much.”

The other women are quick to agree. “When we see the faces of the children, how can we NOT help?  That’s the better question,” volunteer Karen Bautista adds.

Recently, the women have decided to get children involved with their efforts and are running the first ever essay contest for kids in order to raise money for FCP.  “Charitable children grow into charitable adults,” notes long-time volunteer Maja Cederwell.

“I wish everyone could see the effect  their donation has on one of these children. Even the smallest effort makes a world of difference to someone who has lost hope and needs to believe that people can be trusted,” Marcon says.

Children can write a maximum of 250 words responding to the prompt, “It is important to help a child in need because…”  Essays are broken down into age categories and prizes will be awarded to the top three essays in each category. Donations take the form of an entry fee for the contest.  Details for entering are available on the FCP website.  Winners will be published in Tokyo Families in addition to other prizes but 100% of donations from the essays go directly to helping the children.  For more information please see the FCP website at friendsofchildprotection.com.

“As a special courtesy to readers of Tokyo Families, FCP will extend its deadline until May 15th.  Please write “Tokyo Families” at the top of your essay so we can accept it.”

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