Bethany Home, which was started in 1989, is a specialist home offering much-needed support to 53 abused women and their children in Bertrams, South Africa.
The home’s mission is to rehabilitate abused women and their children – who are sent to Bethany Home from police stations and hospitals across South Africa and further afield, including via word of mouth recommendations and direct contact made using their website.
Women who arrive at Bethany Home will often own nothing but the clothes on their back. In many cases, such individuals have experienced incredibly harsh times, and are left feeling helpless and hopeless as a result of the abuse they have endured. For many of these individuals, Bethany Home is usually their last resort – having been subjected to physical, emotional and sexual abuse for many years.
In some cases, such individuals have suffered abuse at the hands of their partners – or other people whom they were once emotionally attached to. In other scenarios, these individuals have experienced many years of abuse since childhood – which may have been physical, emotional or otherwise.
Regardless of their circumstances, Bethany Home provides them with refuge and support.
This year, Systematics has helped to support Bethany Home by providing financial support as well as donations of clothes, stationary, sweets, mobile phones, games, toys and more.
Christine Bhatt, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Systematics, said: “I am delighted that Systematics has been able to support such a unique and important organisation in such a faraway place.
“Without visiting first-hand, it is very, very difficult to imagine how these women and children have managed to survive the shocking levels of abuse, neglect and rejection they have suffered at the hands of people who are supposed to love them.
“The admirable work undertaken by Bethany Home is crucial, and as CEO of Systematics, I am very proud that our organisation has been able to support them.”
Manuel Bhatt, Chief Finance and Strategic Planning Officer at Systematics, added: “During a recent visit, it was such an amazing feeling to meet some of these women, who were actually smiling and happy despite the hardships they have endured, all because of the work undertaken by Bethany Home.
“It is truly astonishing that Bridget, the home’s manager, and the rest of the team have managed to instil some happiness back into the lives of these unfortunate women and children.”
So far, Systematics has provided four suitcases full of clothes, stationery, sweets, games, toy cars, and much more, to these vulnerable individuals, as well as donating a very considerable sum of money.
Earlier this year, Bridget Edwards, the Home’s manager, presented us with a thank you letter, which can be accessed via Systematics’ website here.
