Give an Orphan a Teddy Bear - Pakistan

More and more youngsters are suffering from mental health issues than ever before.  We at Dawood Global Foundation love to give out teddy bears as they are cuddly, loveable and soothe the children.

Why do kids love Teddy Bears? For the same reason that adults do! Although stuffed toys may seem “silly” or “unnecessary” to the untrained eye, they can provide many benefits beginning with the soothing qualities of their softness. The softness of a stuffed animal can provide not just emotional comfort, but actual physical healing as well. Research done on baby monkeys separated from their parents (Harlow’s studies) showed that those who had a soft, terry-cloth mother “substitute” actually thrived physically. However, those who had a wire substitute did much more poorly, even though they were sufficiently fed. Primates – and that includes us – are obviously meant to be nurtured by softness. Somehow, softness is associated with the tender feelings of mother-love and as such, can trigger bits of that warm feeling in one who encounters it. People instinctively buy soft bears or other stuffed toys as baby gifts, but as it turns out, softness appeals to more than just babies.

We wanted to remind you of this today as we thank you for your support and ask you to continue to give and spread the word. They are so many children in need of love.

Our team has been in interior sindh, Pakistan, doing flood relief work.  The number of orphans and street stranded children is so huge. We began by giving them food rations and medicine, but realize that teddy bears and hugs and cuddles are also so needed right now.

Thank you for your generosity.  As people are struggling to survive, those who are without family are missing not just food and shelter but love and comfort.

There is not a single orphanage in Mirpurkhas, but there are orphans.  We are now planning to take these teddy bears for distribution not just in urban areas but rural ones, all thanks to your kindness and generosity.

33 families are displaced and without homes, 100,000 livestock dead and 1,000 people dead.  It's unfathomable.

In each of these reports, we've emphasized how much orphans need someone or something to call their own and love. Actually, everyone does.  Science has shown that hugs and cuddles can help with stress, and one doesn't have to pop pills if overwhelmed.

The teddy bear gift represents not just something of their own, but something they can shower unconditional, unjudged love over. There is so much said about giving food and shelter, which our foundation does as well, but giving a child something to cuddle, something all his or her own, tugs the heart chords in ways I cannot begin to describe and helps so much combat loneliness and mental health issues.

Thank you for your generosity and support! Please do continue to give and spread the word.

As each child gets a teddy bear, the first cuddle is the most meaningful. Unless another human, the teddy cannot ever reject or deny the child. As the child hesistantly draws the bear close, a special magic happens. So often orphans suppress their need to express love because there isn't someone of their own to love. A teddy is something of their own to love. For the first time.

All thanks to you.

"I love Babu," says eight year old Aaniya (name changed). "I love him. He's mine!"

Whether the love is as much for Babu or that fact that he completely and forever belongs to Aaniya, the reality is she can and does love him with all her heart and showers him with that love.

We are going to rural Sindh this month - Sanghir and Badin - and giving orphans teddies. Please donate more and spread the word. Thank you!

The headlines around the world focus on the new COVID19 variant Omnicron and how viral it is. Safety precaution tips, talks of lockdowns, stricter rules, postponement of the Grammy awards, etc. What is not talked about is how the orphans too are struggling. While it's sad several in person celebrations are being cancelled or postponed, the life of the unseen is not just unheard but more isolated and depressed than ever.

Your act of kindness in giving these teddy bears mean more than any one of us could have realized at the start of this project. Teddies are good for cuddling and love, and that's needed more than ever during this seemingly never ending pandemic. For a child with parents, there is so much confusion and fear. For a child without parents, there is even greater need for live, security and cuddles than ever before.

This is such a simple act of kindness. Gifting one teddy bear to one orphan. However, the joy it brings to that parentless child cannot be expressed in mere words. God bless you. Please continue to donate and spread the word. These are the times when empathy, compassion and acts of kindness are what really matter.