The Teddy Bear Foundation South Africa

The Teddy Bear Foundation South Africa Where children go on their Journey to Healing🧸 TBF is closely monitored by the board of directors who are all from civil society.

The Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children now trading as Teddy Bear Foundation (TBF) originated in 1986 in response to an urgent need for medical examinations for sexually abused children. From there it has grown into a fully fledged service for abused children which includes: Forensic medical examinations, forensic assessments, counseling, psychological testing and more recently a diversion programme for youth sexual offenders. Professor Lorna Jacklin a specialist pediatrician based at the Johannesburg General Hospital the chairman of the board of directors formed part of the inception of the TBF. The financial department is audited every year by a well known and reputable auditing firm. In South Africa, child abuse is and has been an ongoing problem. As an NGO, our concern is not only to support children and families affected by abuse but also to promote: “CHILD ABUSE NO MORE”. We historically have supported the abused child through the Criminal Justice System to ensure psychological healing takes place and the child is able to fulfill their place as a valuable member in society without the scarring that may perpetuate child abuse in the future. We have done this through forensic medical examinations, supportive therapy, forensic evaluations, psychological testing and a court preparation programme for children and parents, for cases that go to court. We offer a diversion programme in partnership with the courts for young sex offenders. This programme is designed to redirect the child offender away from the criminal justice system in order to rehabilitate the child into more constructive behaviours. We hereby prevent the child from developing into an adult offender which in turn will help us achieve our aim of “Child Abuse no more”

For any clinical information:
Clinical Director- Dr Shaheda Omar
Email: shahedao@ttbc.org.za
Cell: 083 557 3720
Tel: 011 484 4554

Donations and support:
Donor Liaison Manager- Dalene Bishop
Email: daleneb@ttbc.org.za
Cell: 083 469 9196
Tel: 011 484 4554

💔🧸South Africa families of missing children left searching, grieving, and without answers. 🧸💔South Africa cannot even an...
17/11/2025

💔🧸South Africa families of missing children left searching, grieving, and without answers. 🧸💔
South Africa cannot even answer the most basic question about its children: How many vanish each year?

What we DO know is chilling: hundreds possibly thousands are never found. Abducted. Trafficked. Exploited. Murdered. And missing children are not even counted in official crime statistics. The police said that 2963 children were reunited with their families since 2020. That is 1919 girls and 967 boys. Experts say the figures are not a true reflection of the Crisis.

At The Teddy Bear Foundation, our hearts break with every missing child. We are deeply concerned, and we are doing something about it.

Every day we:
🧸 Provide trauma-focused therapy & medical care to abused and neglected children
🧸 Offer court preparation and support so tiny voices can be heard
🧸 Run diversion & prevention programmes to stop the cycle before it starts
🧸 Train teachers, social workers and communities to recognise and report danger
🧸 Stand with families from the moment a child goes missing until justice is served

No child should disappear without a trace.
No family should fight alone.

If you know a child in crisis, call our crisis line: 0800 44 33 77
Together, let’s bring them home.



www.teddybearfoundation.org 💙🧸

🚨AUNTIE WANTS A KISS: TEACH YOUR CHILD: NO IS OKAY! 🚨🧸 Relatives may push for hugs or kisses. That’s NOT harmless. It t...
14/11/2025

🚨AUNTIE WANTS A KISS: TEACH YOUR CHILD: NO IS OKAY! 🚨

🧸 Relatives may push for hugs or kisses. That’s NOT harmless. It teaches kids their body isn’t theirs. 💔 The Teddy Bear Foundation says: Empower them to say NO, even to family.
2. 👶HOW TO TEACH “NO” AT FAMILY GATHERINGS:
1️⃣ Practice at home You don’t have to hug Grandpa if you don’t want to. Wave instead!
2️⃣ Offer alternatives High-five, fist-bump, blow a kiss.
3️⃣ Back them up. If they say no, YOU step in: “We respect her choice.”
4️⃣ Code word “Pineapple!” means “I’m uncomfortable. Help break cycles and heal. For more: teddybearfoundation.org.za

🌟 Heartfelt thanks to the Johannesburg Central Magistrate Court for stepping up in the National Minister of Justice’s ca...
14/11/2025

🌟 Heartfelt thanks to the Johannesburg Central Magistrate Court for stepping up in the National Minister of Justice’s campaign! 🙌

Your team collected toys, books, and clothes and delivered them right to our child-friendly waiting room at Johannesburg Court, proudly managed by the Teddy Bear Foundation. 🧸📖

While kids wait for proceedings, they now have a safe space to play and read, easing anxiety during scary times. But it doesn’t stop there.
Through our Court Preparation Programme, we empower child survivors of abuse and trauma with age-appropriate guidance: explaining the process, reducing fear, and building confidence to testify clearly and bravely. This helps them nail perpetrators in court, turning trauma into justice and breaking the cycle of silence. ⚖️💪

Your donations + our preparation = stronger voices for vulnerable children.

Thank you for being part of the healing. Together, we protect, prepare, and prevail. ❤️

🌟What an inspiring morning! 🌟 Dr. Shaheda Omar, our incredible Clinical Director at the Teddy Bear Foundation, joined Cl...
14/11/2025

🌟What an inspiring morning! 🌟 Dr. Shaheda Omar, our incredible Clinical Director at the Teddy Bear Foundation, joined Clement Manyatela and Tebogo Phaas from Public Interest Services on Radio 702 to shine a light on the urgent work we're doing to protect and heal South Africa's children.

At Teddy Bear, we've been champions for abused kids since 1986, offering holistic support that includes forensic assessments, trauma counseling, psychological testing, and medical exams to minimize harm and prevent secondary victimization. We also run diversion programs for youth at risk of offending, support teenage pregnancies, and fight gender-based violence through education, awareness campaigns, and family empowerment. Every step is about turning pain into healing and breaking the cycle of abuse. 🧸❤️

If this resonates, tune in to the replay or reach out to learn how you can get involved. We want to thank @ and 702 for the interview and for helping us to spread the message of healing far and wide. Together, we can make child abuse a thing of the past!

Here’s how to spot a wobble… and squish it with love: You might notice: Heart going boom-boom-boom 🫨 Tummy doing flip-fl...
14/11/2025

Here’s how to spot a wobble… and squish it with love: You might notice:
Heart going boom-boom-boom 🫨
Tummy doing flip-flops 🤢
Brain feels fuzzy or blank 😵‍💫
Hands shaky or super cold 🖐️❄️
Wanting to cry or hide under the desk 😢

🚨Magic Words🗣️ Whisper: “This wobble is big, but I am BIGGER!”
You are NEVER alone with your wobbles. you’ve got this! 💪❤️ Save this post for wobble moments & tag someone who needs a teddy rescue squad!

🐻 Panic to Teddy Zen Mode 🧸✨ Exam pressure can feel HUGE… and sometimes kids think “cheating is the easy way out.” But g...
13/11/2025

🐻 Panic to Teddy Zen Mode 🧸✨
Exam pressure can feel HUGE… and sometimes kids think “cheating is the easy way out.” But guess what, little champs? Cheating is like stealing your OWN superhero cape! 🦸‍♂️❌
Here’s how to stay 100 % HONEST & ZEN even when panic knocks:
🧸 1. Make a promise not to cheat
✋ 2. “Hands on my paper only” rule
👀 3. Eyes on your own magic : looking sideways steals YOUR brain power.
😰 4. “I know enough!”
🎯 5. Remember the proud roar: Finishing honestly feels like winning the exams Cup! 🏆🐻
You’re not just smart – you’re HONEST-smart, and that makes you UNSTOPPABLE!
Save this for exam day & tag your honesty squad!

🌟At the forefront of child care reform!🌟 Dr. Shaheda Omar, Director of the Teddy Bear Foundation, is at the Care Reform...
13/11/2025

🌟At the forefront of child care reform!🌟

Dr. Shaheda Omar, Director of the Teddy Bear Foundation, is at the Care Reform Summit hosted by the Department of Social Development.

The spotlight on stage belongs to Minister Gladys Nokuthula Tolashe of the DSD, championing vital change.

Off-stage connections matter too: Dr. Omar met with Daphne Naidoo, Director at DSD, and Martin Barnard from the Child Protection Unit (DSD) strengthening our collaborative network.

The focus? Deinstitutionalization moving children from institutions into safe, loving family care.

These summits keep us agile, strengthen ties with DSD & stakeholders, and fuel our mission: Keeping EVERY child safe.🧸❤️

🧸🎓 Teddy Bear Foundation Stands in Solidarity with UCT StudentsThe streets of Cape Town echoed with righteous anger this...
13/11/2025

🧸🎓 Teddy Bear Foundation Stands in Solidarity with UCT Students

The streets of Cape Town echoed with righteous anger this morning as UCT’s SRC and students marched against alleged s*xual assault and harassment on campus. They demanded justice, accountability, and safety demands we echo loudly.

South Africa’s latest GBV stats are a gut punch: even in spaces of higher learning, where civility should reign, women remain vulnerable to physical and s*xual violence. This is unacceptable.

At the Teddy Bear Foundation, we’ve spent over 20 years as the frontline lifeline for abused children and youth providing court preparation, trauma therapy, and forensic support to survivors of s*xual violence. Every campus case is a child we once held, now grown but still needing protection. Our expertise in child-centric GBV response extends to tertiary institutions: we train, advocate, and heal.

To every UCT survivor: You are not alone. Report. Speak. Heal.
To leadership: Act now! zero tolerance isn’t a slogan, it’s a mandate.

📞 Need support? Contact Teddy Bear Clinic: 011 4844554 WhatsApp 0644758326

One second you’re confident, next second… total confusion fog! 😵‍💫 But guess what, Class of 2025? Your we believe in you...
12/11/2025

One second you’re confident, next second… total confusion fog! 😵‍💫 But guess what, Class of 2025? Your we believe in you MORE than you know! Here’s how to swap confusion for CONFIDENCE:
🤗 1. Snuggle & Study: Study but also make time for comfort breaks
💭 2. Confusion Buster: When a question looks like alien language, underline the 1 word you DO know, then breathe. Close your eyes, relax and remember what you know about that word.
✨ 3. After EVERY question you attempt, give your yourself a high-five and say “I’m one step closer!”
🧘‍♀️ 4. Matric Mantra: Close eyes, hug yourself, repeat: “I prepared. I belong here. I am matric MAGIC!”
🏆 5. Post-Exam Proud Roar: Walk out knowing you showed up as YOU

❤️ Confusion is just confidence wearing a silly mask. Rip it off with cuddles, one question at a time! You’re not writing exams – you’re writing your LEGEND!
Tag your matric bestie who needs this & save for every paper!

🚨South Africa's Silent Crisis: Time to Break the Silence on GBV🚨Heartbreaking reality: 1 in 3 women face physical or s*x...
11/11/2025

🚨South Africa's Silent Crisis: Time to Break the Silence on GBV🚨

Heartbreaking reality: 1 in 3 women face physical or s*xual violence in their lifetime. Every single day, at least 15 women are murdered, and 117 report r**es to police. Our sisters, mothers, daughters deserve BETTER. 💔

At the Teddy Bear Foundation, we're fighting back with HOPE and ACTION. Our GBV programs include:
Evidence-based outreach challenging harmful norms & preventing violence against women & children
Girls’ Leadership Clubs in schools, empowering young leaders via the SeVISSA program
Teen Moms Support, educating on s*xual health & reproductive rights
Diversion Programs breaking the cycle of abuse for at-risk youth
Medico-Legal Clinic providing holistic healing & court prep for survivors

We're here to minimize harm, support healing, and build a safer SA. Join us, report, educate, advocate! visit teddybearfoundation.org.za. Together, we END this.

🦋🐻 Keep those exam butterflies cozy and calm! ✨ Hey little superstars! Got fluttery feelings in your tummy? Let’s tuck ...
11/11/2025

🦋🐻 Keep those exam butterflies cozy and calm! ✨ Hey little superstars! Got fluttery feelings in your tummy? Let’s tuck them in with some teddy magic:
💕 1. Cozy Corner: Find a quiet spot, and breathe! sends calm all the way to your brain!
🌈 2. Rainbow Breathing: Breathe in happy colors (red, orange, yellow…) and blow out grey worries watch them float away!
✏️ 3. Tiny Wins Jar: After every question, and imagine dropping a glitter star in your jar
✨ 🥤 4. Magic Water Trick: Take a sip, close your eyes, and say “I’m cool, calm, and cuddly-smart!”
🧦 5. Lucky Socks or Teddy Tag: Bring your favorite teddy keyring or wear silly socks instant bravery boost! Your butterflies are turning into brave little bears… and they’re SO proud of you!
🐻❤️ Save this for exam week & tag a friend who needs cozy vibes! 🦋🧸

The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has wrapped up the first phase of crucial public h...
10/11/2025

The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has wrapped up the first phase of crucial public hearings in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape on South Africa's statutory r**e crisis, highlighting the alarming rise in cases and teenage births in public facilities. It's time to enforce mandatory reporting and protect our young girls! 💔👧

Shoutout to the incredible Teddy Bear Foundation for their lifesaving work supporting abused children on their Journey to Healing through therapy, counseling, and diversion programs. Together, we can end child abuse! 🧸❤️

Address

Children's Memorial Institute
Johannesburg
2001

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 16:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 16:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 16:00
Thursday 08:00 - 16:00
Friday 08:00 - 15:00

Telephone

+27114844554

Website

https://ttbc.mobi/m/TeddyBearFoundation

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Our Story

The Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children (TTBC) originated in 1986 in response to an urgent need for medical examinations for s*xually abused children. From there it has grown into a fully fledged service for abused children which includes: Forensic medical examinations, forensic assessments, counseling, psychological testing and more recently a diversion programme for youth s*xual offenders. Professor Lorna Jacklin a specialist pediatrician based at the Johannesburg General Hospital the chairman of the board of directors formed part of the inception of the TTBC. The TTBC is closely monitored by the board of directors who are all from civil society. The financial department is audited every year by a well known and reputable auditing firm. In South Africa, child abuse is and has been an ongoing problem. As an NGO, our concern is not only to support children and families affected by abuse but also to promote: “CHILD ABUSE NO MORE”. To do this we at the TTBC have a two-pronged approach. We historically have supported the abused child through the Criminal Justice System to ensure psychological healing takes place and the child is able to fulfill their place as a valuable member in society without the scarring that may perpetuate child abuse in the future. We have done this through forensic medical examinations, supportive therapy, forensic evaluations, psychological testing and a court preparation programme for children and parents, for cases that go to court. The second prong of the TTBC approach is offering a diversion programme in partnership with the courts for young s*x offenders. This programme is designed to redirect the child offender away from the criminal justice system in order to rehabilitate the child into more constructive behaviours. We hereby prevent the child from developing into an adult offender which in turn will help us achieve our aim of “Child Abuse no more”