According to the 2021 Household Affordability Index, the average monthly cost of feeding a child an essential nutritious diet is R710,75. However, South Africa’s child support grant is only R480. As a result, countless new mothers in the country struggle to provide basic care essentials for themselves and their new-born babies.
To give these new mothers the dignity of providing for their little ones, The Grace Factory, an independent non-profit social distress relief organisation, provides maternity packs to vulnerable mothers and their new-born babies throughout South Africa.
These packs include vests, beanies, blankets, socks, nappies, wet wipes, bum cream, aqueous cream, baby soap, face cloth, maternity sanitary pads, and breast pads. This equips new mothers to see to the needs of their new-born baby, allowing their young to be kept warm with clothing, and be cared for.
The organisation distributes these maternity packs through government hospitals, clinics, social workers and other community partners. So far, it has helped over 19,000 anxious new mothers and babies and 200 children’s homes and organisations with much-needed mom and baby essentials.
“The dream for every new mother is to be able to provide the best for her baby. That’s why we’re so passionate about ensuring that no mother delivers a baby in our communities without having the basic essentials for herself and her baby during the first few weeks of her new-born baby’s life,” says Sarah Cressey, Co-Director at The Grace Factory.
“We also want to break the stigma that new moms, especially adolescents, are falling pregnant for grants or that they’re promiscuous. The reality is that South Africa is the gender-based violence capital of the world, and many young women fall pregnant from rape and don’t have any other option but to keep the baby. So no matter their circumstances, these women still need our support and assistance,” she adds.
Teenage pregnancy remains a serious social and health problem in South Africa and, unfortunately, continues the cycle of poverty. However, many of these pregnancies aren’t by choice and result from statutory rape. The Gauteng health department recorded more than 23,000 teenage pregnancies between April 2020 and March 2021, with 934 girls between 10 and 14 giving birth – indicating a surge in this crime.
The Grace Factory tries to assist as many moms and babies, regardless of how they arrived at that point of need. The organisation says it’s aware that the country’s society isn’t always fair, and every effort to change these new moms’ situations makes a difference.
Despite the organisation’s impact, it still battles to overcome several challenges of its own. For example, it relies entirely on volunteers and corporate sponsors and doesn’t have its own offices or facilities to store maternity packs. Sourcing items and putting the maternity packs together has also been extremely costly.
“Our packs are expensive and required in high volume. For example, we’re currently trying to put 1,000 packs together for July, which works out to R300 per pack. So we’re in desperate need of financial assistance and volunteers who can help us collect these items, pack them, and deliver them to vulnerable mothers,” adds Cressey.
“Vuma believes in an inclusive community that doesn’t leave anyone behind, including new moms and their babies. That’s why we’re so proud of and grateful for the difference The Grace Factory makes to the lives of so many mothers and babies in South Africa. We encourage individuals and corporates to get involved in helping this organisation reach even more communities,” says Taylor Kwong, CSI Manager at Vuma.
Vuma has committed to sponsoring The Grace Factory with 96 maternity packs and booties, beanies and blankets knitted by its staff for maternity packs that will go to vulnerable mothers ahead of this year’s Mandela Day.
The Grace Factory relies on the power of its supporters, volunteers, and sponsors. So, whether big or small, South African corporates and individuals can help in the following ways:
Sponsor a donation drive or packing day at the office – packing days involve companies donating money to The Grace Factory, which then purchases the essential items and delivers them to the company’s offices so staff can pack them.
Donate new or preloved baby items, such as clothing, blankets, nappies and more at these drop-off points
Make a monetary donation to The Grace Factory bank account – cash donations can be stretched further through the organisation’s management because it’s partnered with retailers to purchase items at cost price.
Knit, crochet, or sew baby beanies, jerseys, booties or blankets.
