Bears dressed for success and care

A teddy bear is a timeless symbol of comfort, reassurance, and innocence, and now it’s becoming an icon of bravery and hope. Penny Stein, who has been active in the fight against women and child abuse in South Africa for many years, has teamed up with Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) to launch the first annual Brave Heart Bears Initiative to raise money for therapy for abused children.

The launch coincides with the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, from 25 November to 10 December. Fine jewellery designer Jenna Clifford and more than 35 other top South African designers, popular brands, and South African personalities have come together to create a unique collection of beautifully dressed and exquisitely styled teddy bears that will be sold in aid of abused children desperately needing support.

“Each one-of-a-kind teddy bear is valued at R2 200, which will pay for twelve therapy sessions for one child,” says Stein. “Over the past eight months under lockdown, WMACA has assisted with 3 500 children’s therapy sessions, 90 parent sessions, and 120 family sessions. Their services are free to all children and parents.” The original aim was to create 80 outfits, but the response was so overwhelming that 103 teddy bears are now dressed for success and ready for their new owners.

Stein lends her expertise to organisations in this field for six months at a time, and Brave Heart Bears is her passion project for WMACA. “The numbers of abused children has sadly increased under lockdown. It’s always been a pandemic, so essentially we are fighting two pandemics at the moment. During all of this, we have thought about the importance of the teddy bear to a child, and sourced bears for children having therapy. This group of teddy bears was donated, and we wanted to do something with them that’s positive and creative.”

Stein was overwhelmed at the response of designers and well-known South Africans to taking part in the project. “They all jumped at it, and thanked us for including them. They responded with so much love and warmth. We have included a range of designers from established to up-and-coming, to fashion and jewellery designers.

“South African-based George Malelu, who designed Beyoncé’s gown for the Global Citizen concert, and Carina Louw from South African design house ERRE, who dresses Princess Charlene of Monaco, each designed five outfits. We have every kind of bear you can think of – grannies and grandpas, a bride and groom, gym bears, princesses, LGBTQI+ bears, and many others. Each is one-of-a-kind, never to be repeated.”

“We have 35 movers and shakers that are part of this, so they will get the word out,” says Stein. The launch will take place at Jenna Clifford Studios in Morningside on 25 November, and will be on display and available for purchase until 20 December. The launch is supported by radio station YFM.

“Even in our high-tech world of gadgets and gizmos, children’s love affair with the simple teddy bear runs deep, which is why Brave Heart Bears was the perfect initiative for what we are working towards,” says WMACA founder Miranda Jordan-Friedmann.

“Sexual and physical abuse is a form of trauma, and children who have been affected suffer post-traumatic stress. Healing requires understanding, safety, validation, and patience as children face complex emotions. Ideally, we need to allow them to work at their own pace. This is often difficult when working within the criminal justice system.

“The initiative will give us a much-needed financial injection to help those broken little souls by giving them the tools to navigate their pain. Now in our 20th year of helping vulnerable children, we are honoured to have undertaken more than 146 000 treatment services for our beloved children,” she adds.

Stein says that the Jewish community has been a huge support. “Judge Sharise Weiner donated two outfits from the Warm the World organisation, of which she is a trustee. Kim Tobias donated a cake for the launch. Hayley Kilov offered scents so that the bears smell fabulous. Sharon Smith donated flowers for the launch. Every single person has done it for nothing, just out of love, kindness, and passion.

“Warm the World [a non-profit organisation that distributes blankets to more than 50 beneficiaries] has been supplying blankets to some of the childcare centres that WMACA has been involved in. Recently, we sent them 75 blankets when they assisted women and girls who had been held for human trafficking,” says Weiner.

“I have been on several webinars on gender-based violence. I’ve given the perspective of the judiciary, and it’s one of the things I’m very concerned about. So both in my personal capacity and as a trustee of Warm the World, I wanted to be involved,” she says. “It’s a wonderful way to get the message out and get people involved.”

Lisa Lowenthal and Sue Young Koton of the jewellery brand YOUNG + CO say their involvement in the initiative is part of their commitment to social responsibility. “We feel privileged to have been included, and to work with Penny Stein for this unbelievable initiative and cause that is so close to our hearts. Styling our Brave Heart Bears has re-ignited a real sense of childhood joy and playfulness, and it’s our hope that we can somehow be a part of bringing back this joy and spirit to another brave little warrior.”