Jakarta donation

Nyssa is back from her trip to Indonesia. She visited a local orphanage in Jakarta. Here is what she had to say. "Lestari Sayang Anak is a small orphanage tucked away down a quiet alley in south Jakarta. The organisation’s founder, Ingrid van der Mark, met me at the gate with her two adopted girls, Emily, one, and Lisa, three, and lots of smiles. Ingrid is just getting the orphanage up off the ground, but it already felt like a home with donated play equipment, cots, colourful wall paintings and plenty of toys. She plans to care for up to eight babies at a time, working to make what difference she can to a small number of children. There are close to 10 million people (on the record) in Jakarta and devastating levels of poverty. There are too many mothers who can’t afford to feed themselves, let alone a baby, and there are too many babies. The orphanage has received many donations and has clothes for the babies, but they are second hand and not great quality. It felt really special to bring along a present for them. Jimmy, aged three months, was quietly curious about me and my colourful packages. As you can see in the photo, Emily was much more forthcoming. The orphanage receives plenty of donated items, but it is in desperate need of basic funds to pay for wages, food and the regular ongoing bills. People can sponsor children or make one-off donations. For more information, visit lestarisayanganak.com/. Thanks for letting me be part of Baby Theresa - it was a really lovely experience!" - Thanks Nyssa for supporting Baby Teresa, we really appreciate it.

Thanks to Tracey and her little man Oscar (aka Tigger as he's been named after wearing his Baby Teresa outfit by his 2 year old sister!) for this awesome home model shot!

I wonder wear Oscar's one for one donation will go with suits heading out to Bolivia, Equador and Vietnam this month!

Cambodia donation

Courtney and her travel companions are back from an amazing trip to Cambodia. Here is what she had to say about their time away and the Baby Teresa suits they donated to a local orphanage in Phnom Penh.






"In July a group of 24 Tasmanians traveled to Cambodia for a house building trip with the Tabitha Foundation. During our time in Phnom Penh we were delighted to visit a local orphanage and donate 20 Baby Teresa outfits. The Sisters who run the orphanage were overwhelmed by the donation and the children were very excited to see us all. It was a really special experience being able to spend an hour playing and cuddling some of the happiest children in the world. Thanks Baby Teresa!"

Peru Donation – Casa de Acogida Mantay

During June I travelled for the first time to South America. It was a truly amazing trip with some of the most breathtaking scenery and some of the most impressive people I’ve ever met. If you ever want to see stamina – watch a Peruvian local run up incredibly steep steps fully laden with 20 kilos (or more) on their backs.

For me – the highlight of my trip was in Peru for two main reasons. Firstly – after finding out that I was going to be expecting my own Baby Teresa in a few months my husband and I decided we’d still hike the Inca trail. 46km later and exhaustion doesn’t even begin to describe what I felt, but ending at Machu Picchu made it all worthwhile.

After the trek we descended back down into the amazing town of Cusco where I was able to complete another Baby Teresa donation – the other major highlight of my trip. Sadly due to transport strikes I was unable to complete this donation in person but the organization struck such a chord with me that I wanted desperately to make sure that our Baby Teresa suits went here. I think you’ll understand exactly why when you read about Mantay below.



I must first thank Jane, the owner of Jacks Café in Cusco, firstly they do the most amazing breakfasts you absolutely must try if you’re in Cusco, and secondly it was through Jane that, despite the transport strike, I was able to get our donation to Mantay.




So – let me tell you a little more about Casa de Acogida Mantay or just “Mantay” the Quechuan word for “mother” as so many seem to call it. It’s headed up by Raquel García Matías who was phenomenal to communicate with despite our language barriers (thank goodness for online translators like Babelfish and Google translator).




Mantay is a non-profit home specifically for single mothers aged 12 to 18. Some estimates state that 25% of Peruvian mothers are under the age of 18. Mantay offers support and shelter so that these young mothers don’t turn to abandoning their children under the pressure of being such a young mother – and often being alone.



Mantay runs workshops focusing on things like domestic violence, which can stem from a family being unprepared or resentful of their situation. Mantay also has a small workshop where the mothers produce artisan products Such as purses, bags and bookmarks. The skills they learn in the workshop can help them to find work in the outside world, and the products created can be sold to raise a little money for the upkeep and running of the home.



If you’re in the Peru area Mantay absolutely welcomes volunteers and assistance and their website is here: http://www.mantay.org/english/

All in all, as you can see from the photos this was a perfect fit for a Baby Teresa donation.

- Kirsty

Enterprise Magazine

Thanks to the lovely Claire van Ryn and Rose Chisholm for this fabulous article in the most recent Enterprise magazine.