Volunteers

Dorothy Schulman:
Retired Registered Nurse: Voluntary work approx 20 hours/week. Since retirement in 2007 I have been a volunteer with the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Southern Africa (CAPFSA) based at Red Cross Children’s Hospital. An idea I had for safer candle use for people who use candles for lighting, has been developed into a formal CAPFSA project known as the Safer Candle Project. Its aim is to reduce shack fires caused by fallen candles and resulting burns in adults and children. Demonstrations of safer candle use are given in RXH outpatient waiting areas, and to community workers. Over 2000 jar units consisting of large jar, dry sand, and two half candles have been distributed. This project has been presented at conferences in Cape Town and overseas by CAPFSA staff and Prof van As, Head of Trauma Unit RXH. In April 2009, Prof S van As requested that I extend my voluntary involvement at CAPFSA to help maintain the Child Trauma Research Database, since then I have implemented, in consultation with colleagues, a revised system of record management.

Pippa Readhead:
33 and married with 2 children. Qualifications in Travel and Tourism and an MCSE in computers. Last worked at Medemass, a medical software company as a technician for 5 years. Left the company to become a stay at home mom. Has been at home for 5 years and enjoys sports, especially running and plays hockey for Pinelands hockey club. Came to Child Safe to volunteer through her love for children. Also supports a children’s home in Khayalitsha.

Blossom Mtambeka:
Blossom Mtambeka started volunteering at Childsafe in 2007 and she has been assisting with most activities around Childsafe. She assists with training workshops, coding and punching of the trauma database, safer candle project as well as general office support. She enjoys working with Childsafe staff, as they are a great team to work with.

Michelle Eichhorst:
Michelle came to Cape Town in February 2010 to work as an intern with the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Southern Africa (CAPFSA). She is originally from the United States and attends Michigan State University. She has volunteered with the American Red Cross and also spent three years working at a summer camp for children of all ages. She will be in Cape Town for only three months. She has started with Childsafe/CAPFSA on the 02 of February 2010 and will be departing back to U.S. on the 24 of April 2010. Michelle values her placement at Childsafe and hopes to gain experience which will be very rewarding. We welcome Michelle at Childsafe and we look forward to working with her.

Rukea Abdroef