ROUGH AUNTIES

Jackie, Mildred, Eureka, Sdudla, and Thuli are the women behind \"Bobbi Bear\", a nonprofit organization based in Durban, South Africa, that counsels sexually abused children and works to bring their abusers to justice. Born out of a recognition of cultural stigmas that discourage reporting abuse and inadequate methods of communicating with young victims, \"Bobbi Bear\" developed a method of letting children use teddy bears to explain their abuse. Since 1992, the multiracial staff has become the fearless voice for those victims who would otherwise continue to live in fear, powerless against their oppressors and ignored by the legal system. Facing tragedy daily as part of their advocacy work and, heartbreakingly for some, in their personal lives, the women draw strength from each other and find hope despite the suffering around them.