Johannesburg, South Africa – Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) in association with legendary fine jewellery designer Jenna Clifford together with over 36 top South African designers, popular brands and well known South African personalities today launched the first annual BRAVE HEART BEARS Initiative to co-inside with the launch of 16 Days of Activism.
BRAVE HEART BEARS is a unique and rare collection of over 100 beautifully dressed and exquisitely styled teddy bears. The aim of creating this collection is to help raise funds to ensure every child gets the various therapies’ they need, after being abused.
PARTICIPATING SOUTH AFRICAN DESIGNERS
- Scalo
- Anel Botha
- RUBICON
- TN Collectiv
- Fundudzi by Craig Jacobs
- JJ Schoeman
- ERRE
- Palse Homme
- JULIAN
- George Malelu
- Lloyd Hot Sense
- Sun Goddess
- Warm the World
- Henrietta by Calvin N
- Lindani Styling
- Young and Co
- House of Velour
- AMEN
- House of Conee
- Touch Of Bling
- The Bam Collective
- Mavromac Fabrics
- Cee Jay
- Tshepo Jeans
- NAKED APEX YFM
PARTICIPATING SOUTH AFRICAN WELL KNOWN PERSONALITIES
- Riky Rick – Hip Hop Artist
- Sasha Lee Laurel – ex Miss SA
- Kim Jayde – Award winning TV Host
- Leanne Dlamini – Artist / Founder END GIRL HATE
- Soweto Gospel Choir - Artists
- Lee Toselli – Stylist
- HYPRESS – Renowned African Publicist
PARTICIPATING SOUTH AFRICAN BRAND
- Jenna Clifford –South African Jeweller
- Anti Aging Art – Leading Wellness Centre
- Thirst – Leading Mobile Bar Company
‘Why do kids love bears so much? Besides being cuddly and cute, they offer unconditional love, reassurance, security and companionship. Even in our high-tech world of gadgets and gizmos, their love affair with the simple teddy bear runs deep which is why BRAVE HEART BEARS was the perfect initiative to launch for what we are working towards’ explains WMACA founder Miranda Jordan and further adds, ‘It is well known and well documented the long term, I often refer to the LIFE LONG impact of child sexual abuse which may cause a range of negative consequences for the mental health and adjustment in childhood, adolescence and adulthood for the victim. I often refer to abuse not only stealing the childhood but also it steals their adulthood and that is why both early work at our Clinics is often followed by later work with our Advocacy team. Important aspects of the abuse include the relationship with the perpetrator, the betrayal of trust, the age and gender of the child, and the particular form of abuse are all significant factors. The BRAVE HEARTS BEARS Initiative will help us with a much needed financial injection to help those broken little souls by giving them the tools to navigate a positive way through their pain. Now in our 20th year of helping vulnerable children, we are honoured to have undertaken over 146 000 treatment services to our beloved children”.
BRAVE HEART BEARS Launch supported by YFM, Gauteng’s biggest youth radio station.