Youth Day Stationery Drive

As part of our Youth Day initiative, the Wits Students Surgical Society had the privilege of delivering 50 stationery care packs to the incredible team at the Teddy Bear Foundation. Too often, their work goes unnoticed, yet it plays one of the greatest roles in protecting, supporting, and uplifting children in our communities. Meeting with their team reminded us that care does not end in the hospital but true healing happens when we see and support the whole person.

The Teddy Bear Foundation’s work is both powerful and holistic. They support children not only through medico-legal and psychological care but also through programs that prepare them for court, extend community outreach, educate and mentor teen moms, and promote prevention and early intervention. Their school-based initiatives, including the School Awareness Program (SAFE) and the Sexual Violence Initiative in Schools (SEVISA), further highlight their commitment to addressing the wider social realities that shape children’s lives.

Our stationery packs, filled with essentials like notebooks, pencils, rulers, and erasers, may seem like small gestures, but they are also tools of empowerment. By equipping learners with basic resources, we hope to ease the burden for children and their caregivers, while contributing to the Foundation’s mission of education and upliftment. During our visit, donor liaison Ms. Dalene Bishop shared insights into the profound impact of their work. Her words reminded us that contributing to causes like this is about far more than medicine. It is about strengthening communities and planting seeds of hope.

As the Foundation’s work has shown us, caring for children means going beyond clinical care. It means fostering resilience and creating opportunities that allow young people to thrive. Or, as Nelson Mandela so wisely said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

We are honored to have played a small part in this mission and to stand alongside the Teddy Bear Foundation in supporting vulnerable children. Their work continues to inspire us to care beyond the clinic.