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Empowering Children: The Journey of Mister Teddy and Company
Church in the Community - Media Release in the Herald: 4th November 2024
Source: TCN / Sherry-Lee Booyens
Date Added: 2024-11-04
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General, Issues - Social upliftment,
Date Added: 2024-11-04
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General, Issues - Social upliftment,
In September 2018, Louise Halliday and I joined forces to create Mister Teddy and Company, an initiative centred around an iconic teddy bear character (Mister Teddy) and his 10 plush friends, to bring joy and education to children.
The outreach started with lively children's entertainment, birthday parties and various events.
But, the mission of the organisation goes far beyond mere entertainment.
Mister Teddy and Company hosted their first concert in December 2018 to share the true meaning of Christmas.
In July 2019, after undergoing "Hope For Kids" training with Pastor Cobus Fourie of Evangelism Explosion, Louise and I set out to spread the Gospel in schools through interactive lessons.
Then came the forced isolation of people in response to Covid-19, which in March 202 halted in-person activities.
Undeterred, the partners adapted the Hope For Kids programme in partnership with R.U.C.C. (Rhema United Christian Church), which sponsored a film crew and equipment.
They found it fun but challenging, due to the protocols such as social distancing and masks which needed to be put in place, but they succeeded.
Schools and pupils across the globe could follow the adventures and teachings of Mister Teddy and Company's puppets and main character, Mr Huggelsworth, through YouTube.
This way even in one of the darkest of times, children could still enjoy the Gospel.
Once the world began to heal from the pandemic, Mister Teddy and Company picked up momentum.
The team organized concerts, incorporating props and additional characters to convey the message.
The "true meanings of Christmas and Easter" were a hit, as they also recognized a pressing need in their community to address the social ills which are creeping into schools.
They decided to stand in the gap by raising awareness about bullying, abuse, suicide, drugs, substance abuse, human trafficking, crime and child safety.
Anti-bullying and anti-drug campaigns were officially launched in 2022 with the School Safety programme along with the education department, local community police forum (CPF), the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other stakeholders.
To address these issues, we developed scripts that dramatized the challenges children and adults face daily, using Bluebell the bunny and Max Bear from the anti-bullying campaign as relatable characters.
Bluebell and Max bear serve as a comforting presence, embodying a soft and gentle approach to healing and fights for justice.
They also fight for children's rights and stand against abuse of all kinds.
Blue Bell Bunny is also the anti-bullying ambassador and shares tips on how to stay safe, what to do when faced with these challenges.
Blue Bell Bunny shares helpline or hot line numbers such as Suicide help line 0800 567 567 and Child line 116, both of which can be called from a cell phone free of charge.
The characters, designed to be non-racial and humanized in their roles, deliver presentations that combine valuable life lessons with a gospel message.
This initiative has reached schools across Gqeberha, Dispatch, Kariega (Uitenhage), and more recently, Pearston, receiving heartfelt appreciation from principals, staff, and students alike.
Operating on a shoestring budget, the outreach programmes are self-funded, relying on community support for props and materials.
We are hopeful for the future, aiming to share across the Eastern Cape and then all over S.A and develop scripts that meet the evolving needs of our audiences, teaming up with other stakeholders and nonprofit organisations, such as such as Missing They Wrote, to reach even further.
Mister Teddy and Company stands as a testament to the power of creativity in education and outreach, demonstrating that even in challenging times, love, hope, faith and healing can thrive through imaginative storytelling and engaging characters with their moto "be the change you want to see" they work diligently to make a difference and reach as many souls as possible, wherever they can.
Mister Teddy and Company is registered for all social services and is partners with SAPS, CPF and Education Department.
You can find Mr Teddy and Company on YouTube and Facebook.
Chaplain Sherry-Lee Booyens
The outreach started with lively children's entertainment, birthday parties and various events.
But, the mission of the organisation goes far beyond mere entertainment.
Mister Teddy and Company hosted their first concert in December 2018 to share the true meaning of Christmas.
In July 2019, after undergoing "Hope For Kids" training with Pastor Cobus Fourie of Evangelism Explosion, Louise and I set out to spread the Gospel in schools through interactive lessons.
Then came the forced isolation of people in response to Covid-19, which in March 202 halted in-person activities.
Undeterred, the partners adapted the Hope For Kids programme in partnership with R.U.C.C. (Rhema United Christian Church), which sponsored a film crew and equipment.
They found it fun but challenging, due to the protocols such as social distancing and masks which needed to be put in place, but they succeeded.
Schools and pupils across the globe could follow the adventures and teachings of Mister Teddy and Company's puppets and main character, Mr Huggelsworth, through YouTube.
This way even in one of the darkest of times, children could still enjoy the Gospel.
Once the world began to heal from the pandemic, Mister Teddy and Company picked up momentum.
The team organized concerts, incorporating props and additional characters to convey the message.
The "true meanings of Christmas and Easter" were a hit, as they also recognized a pressing need in their community to address the social ills which are creeping into schools.
They decided to stand in the gap by raising awareness about bullying, abuse, suicide, drugs, substance abuse, human trafficking, crime and child safety.
Anti-bullying and anti-drug campaigns were officially launched in 2022 with the School Safety programme along with the education department, local community police forum (CPF), the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other stakeholders.
To address these issues, we developed scripts that dramatized the challenges children and adults face daily, using Bluebell the bunny and Max Bear from the anti-bullying campaign as relatable characters.
Bluebell and Max bear serve as a comforting presence, embodying a soft and gentle approach to healing and fights for justice.
They also fight for children's rights and stand against abuse of all kinds.
Blue Bell Bunny is also the anti-bullying ambassador and shares tips on how to stay safe, what to do when faced with these challenges.
Blue Bell Bunny shares helpline or hot line numbers such as Suicide help line 0800 567 567 and Child line 116, both of which can be called from a cell phone free of charge.
The characters, designed to be non-racial and humanized in their roles, deliver presentations that combine valuable life lessons with a gospel message.
This initiative has reached schools across Gqeberha, Dispatch, Kariega (Uitenhage), and more recently, Pearston, receiving heartfelt appreciation from principals, staff, and students alike.
Operating on a shoestring budget, the outreach programmes are self-funded, relying on community support for props and materials.
We are hopeful for the future, aiming to share across the Eastern Cape and then all over S.A and develop scripts that meet the evolving needs of our audiences, teaming up with other stakeholders and nonprofit organisations, such as such as Missing They Wrote, to reach even further.
Mister Teddy and Company stands as a testament to the power of creativity in education and outreach, demonstrating that even in challenging times, love, hope, faith and healing can thrive through imaginative storytelling and engaging characters with their moto "be the change you want to see" they work diligently to make a difference and reach as many souls as possible, wherever they can.
Mister Teddy and Company is registered for all social services and is partners with SAPS, CPF and Education Department.
You can find Mr Teddy and Company on YouTube and Facebook.
Chaplain Sherry-Lee Booyens
Source: TCN / Sherry-Lee Booyens
Date Added: 2024-11-04
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General, Issues - Social upliftment,
Back to News IndexDate Added: 2024-11-04
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General, Issues - Social upliftment,
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