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To offer a safe space for pregnant women and new mothers to express their concerns and receive valuable advice, non-profit organisation, Thárros Family Centre, has created support groups at clinics in Hankey and Humansdorp and have partnered with the Department of Social Development, Department of Health, Department of Education and Sakhe Family Centre to help teen mothers at schools in Hankey.
Noxolo Thomas, who is a social worker at Thárros based in Hankey, said that after realising that there was a great need for support for under-privileged mothers in Hankey, she suggested to her manager and founder of the centre, Taise Sampson, that they consider helping mothers in the area.
Since she had experience working with pregnant women and new mothers, once she received the go-ahead from Sampson and approval from the various governmental departments, she began offering support group sessions through their programme, Mother 2 Mother, to mothers at Masakhane Clinic in Hankey in October last year, where they saw approximately seven to 10 mothers at each session.
Thomas said the support group quickly branched out to KwaNomzamo Clinic in Humansdorp where they have seen an even greater need, with women travelling from St Francis Bay and Jeffreys Bay to attend the sessions.
“The group sessions are not only focused on me offering advice, but it is also a place where mothers can vent about the challenges they face, and the group members offering one another advice,” said Thomas.
She said they have been fortunate enough to receive a generous sponsorship of a digital parenting curriculum, Partners for a Healthy Baby from Florida State University, where they discuss topics such as personal hygiene, the importance of a support system, and finances.
Thomas said that it has been an amazing experience to see how the mothers support one another during their sessions.
“It is great to see how the mothers vent about the challenges they face and then help one another come up with solutions. Since many of the women are unemployed, they often brainstorm on ideas to make money to take care of their children’s basic needs,” said Thomas.
Despite encouraging group sessions with other mothers, she said that many of the women request one-on-one sessions when they do not feel comfortable speaking during group sessions, which she is more than willing to accommodate.
With a high teen pregnancy rate in Hankey, as part of Pregnancy Awareness Week which runs from February 10 to 16, Thomas said that with help from the various governmental departments and Sakhe Family Centre they had planned to visit Hankey High School and Vukani Combined School on February 12, to help teen mothers. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, they were unable to visit the schools and will be planning a new date for their visit.
“We have seen teen mothers visiting the clinic, but do not return after the first session. By visiting the two schools we are hoping that the young mothers will feel more comfortable speaking to a social worker,” said Thomas.
In addition to offering advice and guidance, she said that they often help the mothers with donations of blankets, baby clothing, and toiletries.
Thomas is therefore encouraging people to consider donating these items which will be handed over to the mothers in need. In addition, she is requesting hospital bag donations for pregnant women ahead of the birth of their children.
For more information contact Taise Sampson on 083 500 0910.
