|
Tumi gets his own telephone! 
The names for the children mentioned in this article are fictional.
(written by Melody Brits)
Tumi now mans his own telephone line that children can contact per Whatsapp chat or call - if they need an understanding ear or good advice.
From now on every Tumi or Colin distributed by GRNSA, will have Tumi's number on his voice box in his tiger belly.
Tumi prefers to work with children; that is his department.
But he will put any adult persons who phone in through to Melody, our professional counselor.
 Contant Tumi at
+27 66 353 4890
Tumi keeps on comforting kiddos
  
The children above are growing up without a father, one
due to drug addiction and the other two because of major alcohol and violence.
"Tumi is still going strong. The demand is increasing, as is the need for intervention. Especially in our schools as the social workers are overwhelmed and resources stretched thin with the result that some schools never have a social worker visit as there are always worse cases for
them to attend to.
"The times are turbulent with the socio economic impact, after two years of Covid, even more so at grass roots level in our communities. As is so often the case the children are the often the victims. Children are exposed to violence on a daily basis.
"During February, I became aware of more children that suffer from domestic abuse trauma as opposed to children suffering from bereavement during the previous months.
"It is hard to listen to the circumstances that these children grow up in and hearing about the abuse they are exposed to. The social workers and service providers also sometimes get overwhelmed by the tragedies. Tumi is a useful tool for the social workers and others to add to their toolbox in assisting the children.
"Another child’s best friend was killed in a taxi accident last month, is in a state of shock – gone quiet, and also stopped eating.
"A boy lost his father at an age when he feels needs him most.
"An 8 year old child's mother is raising him/her alone after they fled from their home to  another province in order to start a new life. The father was diagnosed with a mental illness and the child was exposed to violence and abuse.
"In a little school, for farm worker children in the Cape Winelands the stories of
various abuse (domestic, sexual, neglect etc.) abound. The teachers report that Tumi is making a difference in the lives of the children."
"One orphanage in the country reports that in the different houses there are rooms for children 8-10 years of age with four to five children per room and each room has a Tumi. The highlight of the day is when Tumi tells them a bedtime story. The children are very excited and always look forward to this time. They run to their rooms to listen to Tumi.
"The social worker reports that Tumi makes the children laugh and has a calming effect for bedtime.They are also use Tumi for the baby to 7 year age group with great success.
"The social worker at an aftercare facility in a small rural enclave says that Tumi is an integral part of her therapy protocol. Children demand Tumi as they walk in the door and really bond with him on a deep level. This community is ravaged by a culture of drugs, gangs, crime and unemployment and received tigers last year earmarked for bereaved children and as a therapy tool for the social worker and teachers in the aftercare.
"The social worker from an urban orphanage also reports of the comforting effect of Tumi. The children are 8-12 years and love their time with Tumi. Every night they each get a Tumi to take to bed, which they treasure and look after like gold. They relate to Tumi as their closest friend that they can trust.
We find it interesting that older children, in this case 12 years, are so attached to Tumi. This social worker requested another 10 tigers if possible."
Please pray with us for the children, and especially those who have suffered greatly, also those who have lost one or both their parents or guardians.
Also pray for Melody who provides backup counseling to the families who receive Tumi tigers.
|
