About Us
Aware Bears aims to create awareness and understanding of Cerebral Palsy for those living with it and their families. We also want to change perceptions of what people with disabilities are capable of achieving.
Aware Bears hopes to provide a safe and secure environment for children and their families to discuss their feelings, disappointments and frustrations. We also want allow people the space to celebrate their achievements (big and small) and acknowledge their uniqueness in a positive way.
Accepting a disability is a process with many ups and downs and Aware Bears wants to ensure that people are able to focus on the positive.
Aware Bears hopes to assist those being mainstreamed to make a smooth transition and to help their peers gain a clearer understanding. By exposing the mainstream children to Aware Bears and the children involved they should gain more empathy and a better understanding of just how much children with disabilities are capable of.
Eventually Aware Bears hopes to visit schools around South Africa and help people see that all children with disabilities can be seen as positive, contributing members of society.
For information contact us or look for Aware Bears on Facebook.
Words from Kids & Parents
‘Its Helen’s last day with us today and she will be going to visit another special child with cerebral palsy. We were happy that she visited my brother. Now my brother’s story will be in the journal to share with other people around the country. Best of all, I got to tell my class about Helen and raise awareness and hopefully they will pass this message of hope and remember that if someone is different don’t point, stare or laugh, but rather understand, care and love.’
‘For our family it was a rewarding experience and child friendly way to let Nimoe advocate for herself.’
‘To have Helen with us as a family was really a blessing. I now have the strength to really stand up for my grandchild.’
Words from Kids & Parents
‘We are so grateful for having the opportunity to have Helen with us. It was totally transformed our lives. My daughter felt special for the first time in her life and also discovered that she has a special talent of public speaking.’
‘Dané is gemnerally terrified of teddies but she immediately took Helen and started to rub her. This was a good sign. Just the thought of someone caring this much, to do something like this warms my heart.’
‘Kim has been having difficulty verbalising to people how their words and actions impact on her. Helen has been great for Kim in that she has found a voice to speak without worrying about repercussions on herself because it was Helen who is talking – not Kim’