By Helen Bamford
Few people would contemplate spending a second on a rotting rubbish dump, let alone five days, but social worker Fiona Brophy has a good reason for doing just that.
She wants to create awareness of the number of newborn babies dumped in rubbish bins or abandoned in desolate spots, and to help raise funds for a community-based home for Aids orphans.
Brophy will start her "dump action" on Wednesday at the Athlone refuse transfer station. She will stay in a black bag day and night without even basic amenities.
'I started thinking of the ones who don't make it' "This will be a real experience, not a gimmick or stunt. I want to express solidarity with all those children who never had a chance to live in this world, and to make desperate mothers aware that there are alternatives to dumping babies," she said.
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Brophy, who works at Little Angels, a non-profit organisation for abandoned babies and Aids orphans, said it was chilling death statistics found in forensic units, like "female infant, full-term in black plastic bag, discovered next to container", that had prompted her to take action.
"Many of these babies can be saved and have thrived in the past with the right love and care."
Brophy said she became aware of the plight of abandoned babies when she started working at Little Angels, home of Phillip and Pat van Rensburg who have cared for more than 70 abused, abandoned or HIV-positive babies since 1997.
"I was so touched by the babies, even though some were there for such a short time. I started thinking of the ones who don't make it."
Little Angels recently moved into a Kenilworth house which the Van Rensburgs plan to transform into a community-based home for abandoned babies and Aids orphans.
Brophy hopes to raise R1-million to support them with her dump action.
Van Rensburg said he had been "totally bowled over" when he heard about Brophy's idea.
"But I sincerely hope something good comes of it, the most important of which is awareness."
He said people should rather leave their babies at police stations, hospitals, welfare agencies, or contact Little Angels.
Mike Greenhalgh, of the unicity waste management, said he had never had a request like this before.
"But it's for a great cause and if it will save one baby's life it will be worth it."
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