In service of children and teens in Cape Town with special focus on illness and disability
BASED AT: DANDELION THERAPY CENTRE. NEWLANDS
TheDandelionInitiative@gmail.com
also at hospitals and organisations
The Dandelion Initiative serves children and teens in the Cape Town Southern Suburbs, hospitals and organisations in Cape Town. This service is powered by doctors, counsellors, psychologists and volunteers. We offer child friendly, sympathetic practices to promote wellbeing, healing and encouragement to children so as to release trauma and develop coping mechanisms, self-esteem, self-expression & confidence through:
The Dandelion Initiative serves children and teens in the Cape Town Southern Suburbs, hospitals and organisations in Cape Town. This service is powered by doctors, counsellors, psychologists and volunteers. We offer child friendly, sympathetic practices to promote wellbeing, healing and encouragement to children so as to release trauma and develop coping mechanisms, self-esteem, self-expression & confidence through:
· Trauma counselling and support,
· Play and narrative therapy,
· Solution-focused brief therapy
· Therapy through creative art & music making,
· Mindfulness stress reduction
· Creative writing,
· Journaling
· Breath therapy
· Story telling
· Therapeutic touch,
· Stress Inoculation training
(PLEASE NOTE: APPROPRIATE PERMISSION WAS OBTAINED FOR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING PHOTOGRAPHS)
Mia playing the trumpet
Margi & Mia engaged in therapeutic medical play
Hanlie Marais and Greer Bell are both registered with the hospital through “Friends of the Hospital” to directly assist Margi with the initiative. Hanlie enchants the children with warmth and encouragement and assists with journaling and counselling. Greer delights them with her guitar and creative music making, arts, play therapy and counselling. Thank you to both of you for sharing this vision and for helping the charity to grow and unfold.
Greer & brave little Chante about to have fun with finger paints
It is an incredible privilege to play a part in facilitating the healing process of these exceptional children. We are amazed on a daily basis by their courage and capacity for laughter in the face of their profound challenges and are so grateful to those who have volunteered their time, resources and finances since this journey began. Without your help, we would not have been able to grow as quickly as we have or be able to reach out to as many children. Thank you so much!
Herschel Girl's High School Outreach
The Grade 11’s of Herschel Girls’ High have been deeply involved in our charity by helping with the MYSCHOOL initiative, collecting soft toys and art material (especially very beautifully wrapped journals that form an important part of the therapy). We greatly appreciate the effort and dedication of Carina Pentz (pictured below with Marguerite), and also help from Carlyn Hermans, Tatiana Bell and other girls.
Feeding Scheme for patients with Diabetes Type 1
The Feeding Scheme was initiated a year ago by Marguerite after a young diabetic patient she was counselling complained of feeling weak and hungry during a session. Marguerite quickly realized that a lot of the children with Diabetes Type 1 in Cape Town were below the breadline and, apart from wanting to prevent children from going hungry in general, she recognized the importance of them having to maintain their blood sugar levels to manage their illness. The Feeding Scheme was thus initiated and we are raising funds for 17 children under the breadline to receive a monthly food parcel containing low GI, sugar free food products to help sustain them. This is hugely appreciated by the hospital, the charity and most importantly, the kids.
THE FEEDING SCHEME CURRENTLY AND IN FUTURE WILL BE STREAMLINED AND MANAGED BY FRIENDS' OF THE HOSPITAL.
Please e-mail Greer at greerbellmusic@gmail.com if you are interested in supporting the feeding scheme and she will direct all donations to FRIENDS' OF THE HOSPITAL.
We have also begun offering relaxation techniques and parenting skills workshops to parents. These are much needed workshops as parents are under extreme amounts of stress with little time to process and take care of themselves.
(PLEASE NOTE: APPROPRIATE PERMISSION WAS OBTAINED FOR THE FOLLOWING PHOTOGRAPH)
Mother & son sharing a special moment
More thank yous:
- Our sincere thanks to First National Private Bank for donating a wonderful variety of toys and art materials, including play dough, colouring-in books, packets of crayons and pencils, modelling clay, pens and pencils. The kids are overjoyed to receive these!
· Curtis Elliott for the beautiful graphic design.
· Christopher Browne and Tracey Joubert for the invaluable fund raising coordination.
· Stacy Kleinhans for her amazing input and for the incredible digital marketing. We are stunned by her efforts and deeply grateful to her.
· Herschel Girls’ High for the lovely toys and art material.
· FNB Private Bank for fabulous art material.
· Brian Watermeyer for psychological supervision.
· Chris Wildman for music therapy supervision.
· Grace Reed for a financial donation.
“The Dandelion Initiative was born from my book, “The Dandelion Diary – The Tricky Art of Walking”, which is the story of my struggle as a child and young girl to come to terms with a chronic neuromuscular condition. After many years’ of suffering and struggle, this book was born and a few year afterwards, this charity."
Marguerite
( PLEASE NOTE: APPROPRIATE PERMISSION WAS OBTAINED FOR THE FOLLOWING PHOTOGRAPHS)
If you would like to make a monthly financial donation or use your skills, passions, time or energy to assist us in some way, please contact Greer on greerbellmusic@gmail.com to find out how. We would also like to send you an appreciation gift, mention you on our wall of donors and send you a monthly newsletter.
For financial donations, our banking details are as follows:
Account type: Business Account
Account name: The Dandelion Initiative
(Psychosocial Support)
Account number: 077496310
Branch code: 025109
You can also include us as a MYSCHOOL beneficiary on your Woolworths card.You are allowed to have a total of 3 beneficiaries on one card.
Please forward this e-mail and newsletter to friends and acquantances who may be interested in supporting us.
Best wishes,
dandelioninitiative@gmail.com www.margueriteblack.blogspot.com
THE DANDELION INITIATIVE IS REGISTERED AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION. OUR SERVICES ARE OFFERED BASED ON DONATIONS RECEIVED.
