GRIP, a Lowveld-based full-service organisation assisting survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) at various centres throughout Mpumalanga, is one of thousands of non-profit organisations adversely affected by the aid-funding freeze announced by US president Donald Trump earlier this year.
GRIP received half of its R15 million in annual funding via NACOSA, the Networking HIV and AIDS Community of Southern Africa, which in turn receives funding from PEPFAR USAID, the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief.
Tarryn Lokotsch, CEO of GRIP, says she is extremely worried about the future.
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To ensure a fully comprehensive service to the community – referred to as the GRIP “circle of care” – GRIP has established care rooms across Mpumalanga for anyone wanting to report a case of gender-based violence. Experienced first responders and qualified social workers are stationed at these care rooms to assist victims.
“We are supporting so many survivors of rape and gender-based violence at police stations, hospitals and in court and in many instances those women, and sometimes men, have nowhere else to go. Where will they go if we have to close our doors?”
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Thus far this year GRIP has supported more than 1 400 survivors at its hospital care rooms; 65% of which were younger than 19 years of age. Over 2 200 cases were supported across its network of police stations (516 cases of sexual violence and 1 732 cases of physical or emotional violence). A total of 130 women and children have been provided with long-term sheltering services at the two GRIP shelters and 1 067 survivors have received support in three magistrate courts and one district court. Over 700 survivors, witnesses and caregivers have received court training.
Tarryn says two hospital care rooms and one care room at a police station have no funding to continue operating next year.
“On average, we can run a hospital care room seven days a week with two permanent staff and a social worker for R45 000 per month, and a police-station care room seven days a week with two permanent staff and a supervisor for R35 000. We are in desperate need of corporate sponsors to keep the doors of our care rooms open,” she says.
GRIP has teamed up with SPAR Lowveld and Radio Laeveld during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence that will end on 10 December.
Trolleys have been placed at the SUPERSPAR Crossing, SUPERSPAR The Grove, SUPERSPAR Westend, KWIKSPAR Belladonna and Courtside SPAR where shoppers can place their contributions to care packs for survivors.
“During December we see up to ten cases per day, and we need to have sufficient stock to ensure all survivors who need toiletries have access to a dignity care pack,” Tarryn says. The care packs consist of the following: packet of sanitary towels, pair of panties, facecloth, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant.
If you are able to help in any way, please contact Tarryn at ceo@grip.org.za for more information.
To donate, GRIP’s banking details are:
- Bank: Standard Bank
- Name of account: The Greater Nelspruit Rape Intervention Project
- Current account number: 03-259-255-8
You may also click here to donate to GRIP.
