Matla A Bana (The Power of Children) -Western Cape

National child protection NPO; minimising secondary abuse for child rape and sexual abuse survivors when they report crimes; child-friendly physical environment creation; comfort packs; training; lobbying 1. **Comfort Packs for child rape victims** - Comfort packs are given to girls (primarily ages 5–12) when they report sexual crimes to police - Contents: food, drink, cookies, colouring book and pencils (or teddy bear depending on age), underwear (evidence is taken), toothbrush, face cloth - Distributed to SAPS FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences) Units nationally - Impact on evidence quality: reduced trauma helps children give clearer, more coherent statements, increasing conviction rates - 16 FCS units collected packs in a single Gauteng distribution - Annual pack goal: 100 packs × every FCS unit × nationwide, every month 2. **Child-Friendly Reporting Facilities at SAPS FCS units, courts, and hospitals** - Matla A Bana designs, builds, and equips child-friendly rooms for children to give statements - Brightly painted, soft furnishings, giant teddy bears, playful pictures on walls — designed to lower trauma, not compound it - 43+ such facilities created nationally since 2004 - Recent facility: Kraaifontein SAPS FCS unit, June 2024 - Planned: upgrade of FCS victim support rooms at Margate and Port Shepstone (KZN) 3. **Training of law enforcement and medical practitioners** - Specialised trauma training for detectives and FCS officers - 20 KZN detectives targeted for specialist trauma training (Ramsgate/South Coast, 2025) - Medical practitioners trained in handling child sexual abuse cases 4. **Anti-Bully School Programme** - Multi-province school visits (Xtremeforkids Cycle Tour fundraiser — 1,900km cycling + school visits across 4 provinces) - Thousands of children reached 5. **Lobbying and advocacy** - Lobbying for children's rights in the criminal justice system - Advocacy for improved child protection legislation and police practice - Public campaigns and awareness initiatives **Why child-friendly reporting matters:** Monique Strydom's core insight is structural: under-reporting of child rape is driven by people's lack of trust in a system that has historically re-traumatised children — through cold, clinical, adult-facing police station environments; through long waits without food or comfort; through asking traumatised children for statements in rooms that feel hostile. When a child walks into a brightly coloured room, receives a teddy bear and something to eat, and feels — for a moment — seen and cared for, something changes in what they are able to say. And stronger, clearer statements mean more convictions. Reducing trauma is not only humane — it is forensically strategic.