Mummy’s Angels (MA), a charitable trust that provides postnatal support to underprivileged mothers and infants was officially launched on Tuesday.
The trust was founded in 2018 by four female friends- Elena Bellavite, Kerry Riley, Gemma Pierce and Rochelle Katz who saw the need to assist the beneficiaries with the much needed essentials sourced through donations.
The products which comprises of baby clothing, toys, toiletries, blankets and nappies among others are then put in bags dubbed “baby shower in a bag” before handing them over to the beneficiaries.
The trust has partnered with Kwando Safaris in providing towels, gowns for the new mothers and other newborn essentials.
MA supports on request Maun based save havens comprising of Shelter Botswana, Bana Ba Letstatsi, Women Against Rape, Lorato House and Feed A Child Botswana with the said bags as well as food hampers. It also extends its support to children hospitalised at Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital’s pediatric ward.
Speaking at the launch, one of MA founders, Rochelle Katz revealed that they have so far delivered over 250 bags and assisted over 270 new born babies as well as 6 families with food and clothing hampers. She said when they started operating in 2018 they also gave out a total of 18 bags and assisted 23 babies and later handed out 14 packages.
In 2022, the trust donated a total of 63 bags and also assisted 69 babies with much needed necessities, delivered 9 pediatric food hampers, 2 adult toiletries and also assisted one family with food and clothing hampers.
Katz revealed that when they first started, they relied on donations but by the end of 2022 they officially registered the trust, registered with BURS and opened a bank account which allowed them to receive financial donations. “This has allowed us to increase our reach by being able to accept and manage financial donations,” she further said.
By virtue of assisting Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital, Katz said the trust has made an impact not only on the Maun community but the whole of Northern Botswana adding that they have assisted beneficiaries from as far as Letlhakane, Ghanzi and Shakawe.
Meanwhile Katz has called for support noting that they are always in need of baby blankets, nappies, toiletries, sanitary wear, gently used baby clothing, towels & gowns. “We would like to donate a wide range of clothing in our bags for babies aged up to 1. We would also love to be able to offer basic food vouchers for new mothers as they leave the hospital to make the first month or two at home a bit easier for them, so financial donations would be greatly appreciated,” she pleaded.
For her part, a Letsholathe II Memorial Hospital Social Worker and MA trustee Otsile Keneilwe expressed her gratitude and said that MA has come in handy as they are able to assist both mothers and new born babies in their department noting that most of them come in as emergency referrals without any essentials needed during and after birth.
She highlighted that the “baby shower in bag” packages have really assisted the new mothers who sometimes fall into post natal depression as they get stressed about not having essentials or who is taking care of the children back at home while they are hospitalized for months.
Keneilwe’s wish is to see the trust having a bigger outreach and donating to other hospitals and clinics in Ngamiland.
