Unimaginable. Unspeakable. These words come to mind when we talk about child sexual abuse. Keep a Child Alive with its partner Bobbi Bear is addressing this abuse by implementing a comprehensive approach to reduce child sexual violence in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. The Bobbi Bear Center works tirelessly to rescue and uphold the rights of sexually abused children, to help them survive and thrive. The Center reaches 4,000 children every month supporting them in the aftermath of sexual violence.
Since 2010 cases of child sexual abuse have risen 400% in KwaZulu Natal. Over half of adults aged 16-45 live with HIV, the same age group as the abusers. This puts child victims at risk of contracting HIV. 40% of children in KwaZulu have experienced sexual violence more than once. Many initiatives focus on a single solution, whereas Bobbi Bear focuses on a holistic solution working with police and schools to change attitudes, preventing HIV transmission and submitting evidence for convictions.
The Center provides a safe space for children seeking refuge from their abusers, ensuring they access treatment within 24 hours to prevent HIV transmission, report their abuse and given psychosocial support. Children also receive a toy bear named "Bobbi Bear", a tool that helps children to describe how they were abused, relieving the burden of having to describe their injuries on themselves. In every court case where the Bobbi Bear was submitted as evidence, the conviction rate was 100%.
By donating to the innovative and highly successful Bobbi Bear Center you will support children when they most need it, empowering them to exercise their rights and agency to live free of violence and seek support. The Center strengthens family relations and helps to alter deep-seated norms and behaviors that enable child sexual violence. They ensure children do not contract HIV and have a history of gaining a 100% conviction rate for abusers, discouraging abuse and ending the cycle of violence.
