There has been a rising incidence of trauma involving children which necessitated action to empower children, families and other role players to deal with trauma and to prevent it.  Statistics has shown that South Africa has the highest occurrence of sexual abuse and rape in the world, as well as an alarmingly high incidence of HIV/AIDS.

We have therefore devoted ourselves to actively address these societal challenges, and subsequently founded the TygerBear Unit for Traumatised Children and Families in 1998 with Phase 1 – the establishment of a psycho-social service centre. With the completion of Phase 1 in 2000, the TygerBear Unit continued with Phase 2, the erecting of a Training and Counselling Centre. The Centre was fficially opened in 31 October 2002 and has efficiently been maintained with workshops, training and special events.

In 2005 the TygerBear Unit broke ground, literally and figuratively on Phase 3: The establishment of a dedicated survivor’s care centre to provide a psycho-social and care service to survivors of rape, other trauma due to HIV/Aids, Cancer, etc. in children as well as their significant others (family, friends and partners). The need for such a centre has become a priority due to the alarming increase in children’s trauma. After a long and arduous journey the TygerBear Care Centre was officially opened on 6 December 2008.

We were priviledge to launch our Phase 5, MOBI - Mobile Outreach Bear Initiative, on the 4th of December 2009, with her "maiden voyage" during the live FIFA Draw in Loop Street.

For our latest newsletter (May 2010) Click Here

TygerBear Pink & Blue Child Awareness Campaign

TygerBeer Pienk & Blou Kinderbewusmakingsveldtog

 We have invited more than 3000 children from surrounding institutions, previously disadvantaged schools,  community organizations, our current patients, as well as several VIP’s and celebrities. Many of these children are from far, outlying areas for e.g. Ceres, and leave their homes during the early morning hours for the event, while many of them has and will never have the opportunity to visit a location such as Ratanga Junction. Furthermore a large percentage of the children are from special schools i.e. schools for children with disabilities, and on this special day we remind ourselves that a child is after all only a child and deserving of joy and cheerfulness. The program focuses on a message of hope through “Edutainment” and includes many well known celebrities, singers and performers and many more surprises for our children.

We would like to offer each of the children attending the following (taking into consideration that for many of our children this will be their first or only substance for the day) and would therefore appreciate your contribution towards:

4.1 “Welcome Pack” on their arrival at Ratanga Junction (as some of our children has already been travelling for several hours by the time of their arrival), for example a muffin, fruit or yoghurt

4.2 The “food-goody bag”, with substantial food and drink for the duration of the event.

4.3 TygerBear Educational pack, including the TygerBear leaflet on Children’s Rights, as well as a safety whistle

Now is your chance: MAKE A CHOICE—TAKE A STAND - against children’s trauma!

How can you make a difference:

Pink & Blue Day Photograph

You can illustrate your support by hosting a Pink & Blue Day at your work, organization or school, by:

1. Buying and distributing special P&B  stickers at R5 each and wearing Pink & Blue “civvies” on your day.                   

2. Your Pink & Blue Day can be hosted on any date from 19 July to 06 August 2010.   

3. Photographs will be judged on the basis of most representative of Campaign. 4. Photographs must reach us by e-mail or snail-mail no later than 6 August.                                      

Most Stickers Sold

You can illustrate your support and involvement by selling stickers at your work, organization or school:

1. Buying and distributing special P&B  stickers at R5 each (most sales will be calculated proportionally).                

2. Total amount of stickers sold must reach us by e-mail or snail-mail no later than Friday 06 August 2010

Lucky Draw

You can illustrate your support and involvement by buying a Pink & Blue Sticker:

1. Buy a special P&B  stickers at R5 each

2. Cut the sticker on the dotted line and return the numbered front to TygerBear with your name and contact number, keep the back numbered section as proof of your winning number.                                  

3. Your sticker must reach us by e-mail, fax or snail mail no later than Friday 06 August for the Lucky Draw.                      

The Winning photo, name of the winner who sold most tickets and the name of the Lucky Draw winner  will be featured in the August issue of TygerBear Newsletter and on the TygerBear Website: www.tygerbear.org.za                           

The closing date for the above is 6 Aug, and entries van be sent to: Fax: 021 938 5231 / tygerbear@telkomsa.net / TygerBear Foundation, PO Box 19028, Tygerberg, 7505