| Building Blocks Children's Home |
|
Jenny Berger is in charge of Building Blocks, and she works 24 hours a day, seven days a week. She sleeps close enough to the babies (there are currently ten of them) so that she can attend to them when they need help during the night. All babies brought to Building Blocks come legally through Child Welfare, along with the essential forms four and five, from Child Welfare and the children’s court. The babies are either unwanted or removed for social reasons. They stay at Building Blocks until such time as Child Welfare finds a suitable placement for them. Either they are returned to their families (perhaps a grandparent or a relative), or they are adopted, placed into foster care or into a children’s home. But for the time they are under Jenny’s care they are in excellent hands. Not only are they in a place of safety, but also a place of love and attentiveness. They are physically and psychologically safe. Although Jenny loves her babies and takes exceptionally good care of them, she is very rational and accepting about the fact that they will move on, hopefully, to loving homes where they will get the nurturance they need in order to grow and recover from their losses. This is not always the case though and Jenny is not always happy with where her babies go after they leave. But she accepts gracefully that the decision is out of her hands, and while the babies are in her care, she makes sure that they get all the security and nurturance that they need. When a baby is unwanted, Child Welfare makes contact with the various places of safety to see if a bed or cot is available. Jenny can get a call at any time of the day or night asking if there is space for a new baby. When a new baby arrives, a thorough physical check is done. Careful documentation is made regarding the physical state of the baby, and records are kept throughout the baby’s stay at Building Blocks. Abandoned babies sometimes arrive at Building Blocks in a dirty, smelly state, extremely hungry and in desperate need of tender loving care. Often their names and ages are unknown. But new babies are always greeted at the front door with open arms. When a baby arrives without a name, Jenny and her staff choose a name especially suited to that particular baby. Most of Jenny’ babies are in exceptionally good health, except for little Noni. She arrived at Building Blocks when she was just three days old. Her mother has a severe psychiatric illness, and she spends much of her time in a state mental hospital. On New Year’s Eve, when Noni was just a few weeks old, she had to be rushed to Red Cross Hospital as she became gravely ill. She was found to be HIV positive and she was finally discharged back into Jenny’s care with a bag filled with medications. She will need to be on medication for the rest of the life. Noni’s chances of being fostered or adopted are less now that she is ill. Little Lindi also has some challenges ahead of her. Although physically very healthy, robust and full of smiles, she isn’t developing normally. Jenny has taken Lindi for the relevant tests and investigations but it is unclear what the future holds for her and how she will manage at school one day. This makes the chances of adoption more difficult. People are often reluctant to take on a child who has obvious limitations, as they realize that having a special needs child involves even more commitment, stress and hardship than other children. Life is not always fair and some babies are born into bad situations. The Building Blocks babies have escaped their cruel past though. Jenny and her staff at are able to give them love, nurturance and the opportunity of a new start in life. How you can help? Financial donations Sponsor a child Sponsor a permanent home of 6 children and one house mother Give something on the Building Blocks wish list: -TV -CD Player -Educational Toys (up to 3 years) -Lawnmower -Astro Turf for outside play area -Garden service / Pool maintenance service -Single beds and linen -Cot sheets -Chest of drawers / Wardrobe -Formula – Nan / Lactogen Stages 1 & 2 -Toiletries – Wet wipes, bum creams, shampoo, soaps (bars & liquid) -Voluntary services, eg electrician, plumber
Building Blocks do have enough clothing, blankets, towels, toys, nappies and teddies.
For donations and enquiries, contact Jenny Berger: Tel: 021 532 2096 – Mobile: Jenny 082 504 7447 – Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 131 Forest Drive, Pinelands, 7405, Cape Town – Reg no: 2007/034295/08 |