The paths of Avroy Shlain Cosmetics and Bethany crossed and the relationship has since borne extensive fruit for both parties. Bethany equips and inspires countless women and their children to go out and live a productive and fulfilled life.

The women and their children who arrive at Bethany are usually fleeing for their lives and have tragic stories to tell. Much of their first weeks at the home involve extensive counselling as well as any legal necessities. The next step is to rebuild their shattered confidence and equip them for life after Bethany. Avroy Shlain Cosmetics has become involved in establishing personal development plans for the women that include teaching in basic hygiene and nutrition, financial training, building self esteem and confidence, parenting, values and responsibilities, among others. A number of women have also been sponsored to start their own direct selling businesses. This is the essence of empowerment. Just giving makes people more dependant but we want to show that there is a better way and that with small, practical steps these women can get there.

Our Corporate Social Investment dream to empower people and to enable human potential has always been to strike up a partnership like that with Bethany, in every one of our 13 regions. With the success and self-sufficiency of Bethany it was time to make that dream a reality! We called for proposals and our search underscored the importance of our mission that we aim to contribute to, and sustain projects which promote human dignity, which includes the opportunities for children to grow up in a safe environment, develop self-respect, take advantage of educational opportunities and learn self reliance.

It is widely accepted that the best models of care for vulnerable and orphaned children are found within the children’s communities, not institutions. Orphans fare better if they remain in familiar surroundings, in family units, even if not with their biological families.

Imagine a place where orphans will find a place of safety, a nursery school for pre-school children, an aftercare for school going children, a feeding scheme, a place where life skills are taught, a foster home, a base for a social services office, a hub for community outreach projects that provides a place of safety for toddlers during the day, where school going children finds a warm meal and the love and tender care from grandma. A place from which care givers provide support services to their homes to ensure that it’s cleaned, school clothes are washed and ironed within a home-based structure.

This place is SIZABANTWANA! Not only will these children find a warm meal, they will find safety, love, care and most of all hope for a future. This home stands waiting for us to bring our special touch and our incredible magic to its rooms and passages. Not only can we refurbish the electricity, install burglar bars, furnish the rooms, fill the cupboards with cutlery, crockery, kitchen appliances, linen, clothes and food, we will provide purpose to the grandmas or ‘gogos’ as they are loving referred to, and care givers the opportunity to not only provide a service to their community, but an opportunity to develop, grow and learn skills to improve their own circumstances and be empowered!