How Baby Moses is dealing with the lockdown and what help they need

As South Africa prepares for the lockdown to be enforced on 26 March at midnight, we as a community should spare a thought for those who aren’t as lucky as we are.

Especially now, various NPOs are in desperate need of help, one of them being the Baby Moses Baby Sanctuary. Baby Moses is a sanctuary and safe place for children, babies, toddlers and teenagers who are victims of neglect, abandonment, and abuse.

According to Christo de Klerk, co-founder and a dedicated member of the sanctuary’s family, they are lucky in many respects, especially preparation wise. “This virus has come like a thief in the night, but its spread has given us time to prepare and for that, we are grateful,” said Christo.

He continued to thank all of the sponsors and supporters who have already helped the sanctuary leading up to this lockdown. Crèches and specialty stores have been gracious enough to share surplus food with the sanctuary before they closed temporarily as per the regulations announced by Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday, 15 March.

In terms of the National State of Disaster regulations, visits to community centres, including child and youth care centres were suspended, meaning that the sanctuary has also stopped all visits until further notice.

To keep in line with the regulations, and assure the safety of both the staff and the children in their care, Baby Moses has done the following:

• Most staff members have been given time off during the lockdown period, but Christo said their leave might be extended, depending on the impact of the virus

• Children at the sanctuary, and staff members still working, have implemented the continued washing and sanitizing of their hands, as well as making sure all food deliveries are properly cleaned and safe

• The Sanctuary has set up washing stations outside their building so people can properly wash and sanitize before entering the building

• The visits have temporarily been suspended, and no one will leave the premises unnecessarily

• All staff and children are on vitamins, especially those who have compromised immune systems

• Entertainment boxes have been purchased so that the children can play games and be kept entertained throughout the lockdown

• A duty roster was drawn up, and the children are very excited to be helping with some of the duties of care workers

Even though the sanctuary has prepared in many ways and has put measures in place to make sure everyone is safe and comfortable, as an NPO, they still need help.

Christo said that, at the moment, their greatest need fits in with everyone else’s; financial support. “The current lockdown has put Baby Moses in a really vulnerable position, as donors will have to stay away, but we still need to purchase bread, food and veggies,” said Christo.

The Sanctuary now has a dedicated purchaser and supplier for their food, which is why financial support to pay for the services and food, as well as other payments, would be greatly appreciated. Sadly, Christo said that the Sanctuary’s financial donations for the first quarter, have been the worst that they have been in seven years.

Between Gauteng and the North West Province, Baby Moses currently has 175 beneficiaries, and because of the distance to the remote homes, they had to stop deliveries and have resorted to providing extra funding for necessities instead, which is another reason that financial support is needed.

Christo reminded community members that any financial donation is tax-deductible. To find out how to donate and get the necessary tax documents, contact the Sanctuary by emailing christo@babymoses.co.za or visiting their website: https://www.babymoses.co.za.