Keep a Child Alive

In the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal, it is estimated that one in every four girls will be raped by her sixteenth birthday. Operation Bobbi Bear works on behalf of child victims of sexual abuse by helping to minimize their risk of HIV infection at the point of rescue, ensuring their health and well being, and bringing their perpetrators to justice. Bobbi Bear's work has helped influence the dialogue about the rights of children in courts like no other organization in South Africa. Their court-approved approach, which uses a teddy bear for children to describe their abuse, has helped save thousands of children from being victimized again through retelling their stories. KCA entirely funds the costs for Bobbi Bear to operate and our support made it possible for them to expand to seven different locations throughout Durban in 2010. Our support has also created their Honor Program that follows up on children who are placed in foster care and government-run "Places of Safety," in order to ensure that they being properly cared for and loved. In February 2011, the Bobbi Bear team moved into their own "Place of Safety" − a new home large enough to house both their offices and the children in their daily care. Currently, Operation Bobbi Bear serves an average of 4,000 children a month through rescue, outreach and awareness and KCA is committed to further scale-up of their programs and services, and to help sustain their recent expansion.