Jaco Leeuwner, a committee member for our Biblia Ministry in South Africa, attended a feedback presentation session of Common Good on Friday evening 18 May at the Groote Kerk with his wife Sandra and others. He says, “More than 50 people attended the 2 hour session of which more than 20 people were from Hout Bay where a Biblia is run by Sandra and a volunteer helper, Vasti de Villiers.
“The topic of the day was the First 1 000 Days. The work that Sandra and Vasti started at Hout Bay harbour in the past months is immensely important and part of a new direction our Biblias are heading into… thinking also of the work Dane is doing with regards to human trafficking at Cape Town’s harbour.”
Jaco continues, “I must say, I do not have children, but like Dane and all the others who also attended the session, I was deeply moved by the importance of taking care of women during the first 1,000 Days – pregnancy up to 2 years.
“This is most certainly the most neglected job in our society today, women working so hard to carry and bring up that child within them… many times without any payment, especially in disadvantaged areas.”
Jaco, who is also leading the Cape Namaqua PAK (Plaaslike Aksie Komitee), decided to do everything he can to also incorporate and promote the importance of the “First 1 000 Days” among the PAK’s network of churches and businesses.
Well done, Sandra and Vasti, for spotting this neglected group of people in the Hout Bay harbour society and doing something about it!
Contact Sandra Leeuwner at sandra@worldatwork.net for more information.