PLETTENBERG BAY - A single mom of two, but a mother to many…this is Plettenberg Bay's Helen Bezuidenhout.

For the past four decades, since she moved to the coastal holiday town, Bezuidenhout has dedicated her life to improving the lives of others, especially the vulnerable and the voiceless.

Whether a victim of crime needing support or someone needing a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on, her door is always open.

While she has always been there when anyone needed her, she officially started dedicating her time and energy to helping child victims of crime and abuse through the Green Hearts in 2015.

The Green Hearts is a local non-profit organisation specialising in supporting families, and victims of child abuse.

Before this, she was actively involved with the police's Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP), which aims to support victims and survivors of crime and violence, including gender-based violence, as well as their families, to deal with the impact of the incidents they have experienced.

This she did alongside her duties as part of the Green Hearts until January this year.

Over and above this, she is also part of the New Horizons Neighbourhood Watch, ensuring that her community is safe and cared for.

According to those who know her, she gives her all to her own children and any child in need.

"She is someone who walks a long road with her fellow man. She never asks for compensation for anything she does. She doesn't ask questions, she just does what is necessary," one friend commented.

"Her door is always open for those who face challenges, and even those who don't have problems. She is a loyal friend, has a great sense of humour and is never scared to give her opinion, even if it is an unpopular one. She isn't afraid of working long, hard hours. She is resilient," another said.

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