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BEC’S PLEA FOR HELP

BEC HALLETT is returning to Uganda to volunteer at a crisis centre for girls, some as young as 10, who are pregnant due to rape.

The Hawkesbury mum is passionate about the work of the Wakisa Centre in Kampala which is dedicated to helping these young women who are outcasts from their own community. In the past 15 years over 1700 young girls have been helped. Bec heads off on September 27 but is appealing for donations of cloth nappies, wool, twine, knitting needles and crochet hooks to take with her.

She would also like some trauma teddies. Her dad, Dr Graham Baker, is a psychologist who volunteers at the Wakisa Centre almost every year.

This will be the second time Bec has joined him.

“A lot of these girls have no idea what is happening to their bodies or how they got pregnant.

“They learn about what is happening and what to expect. We tell them it isn’t their fault and teach them skills like cooking and mothercraft.

“We also try to liaise with the family and the community because the last thing we want is for the baby to go to the orphanage and the girl to end up in the street.”

Bec will be teaching the girls to knit and sew clothing and woollen items such as stuffed toys, which they can sell at their local markets.

An essential part of their care is the acquisition of vocational and life skills that will enable them to provide for themselves and their infant once they leave the centre.

Bec said that the centre is always full.

For more information about the Wakisa Centre visit wakisaministries.com/about-us

To donate search for Wakisa 2019 on either Facebook or GoFundMe or contact Bec directly at [email protected] or 0413 058 739.

If you have cloth nappies, twine, wool, crochet hooks or knitting needles you can donate drop them into the furniture section at Harvey Norman McGraths Hill and ask for Luke.

The store, at 264-272 Windsor Rd, McGraths Hill is open 9am to 5:30 pm weekdays (and to 8pm on Thursday) and 9am to 5pm Saturdays, and 10am to 5pm Sundays

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