"Soothing the Nation": Creating Pathways to Safety and Recovery for GBV Victims

Photo Credit: Thirdman via Pexels

In efforts to better support victims of GBV, TEARS Foundation launched its innovative Soothing the Nation campaign — an initiative designed to create a safe place to turn to by offering free, confidential help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, acts as a soothing lullaby that can be heard across the nation by survivors of all types of abuse.

South Africa (10 January 2025) – In South Africa, we have great laws addressing our gender-based violence (GBV) problem, but we fall very short on implementation and accountability. As a result, very few of these laws help with the aftermath of rape while the body and mind try to process the devastation of sexual violence.

Seeing victims as more than just statistics

This has been a long-standing issue that has recently prompted the TEARS Foundation to take action by making sure that victims have somewhere to turn to, be seen and heard and find healing.

“To help victims get the support they need, we need to change the way we view and help survivors. They are not a statistic or a trend,” explains Mara Glennie, founder and CEO of TEARS Foundation and a GBV survivor and advocate.

“They are broken people who, besides carrying the trauma of abuse, often also carry the burdens of not being believed, the stigma, the shame, the self-blame, and the fear of retaliation.”

The Foundation notes that it is such factors that work together to silence the victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, child abuse and all other forms of GBV, despite the countless calls for victims to speak up about their abuse, to break the silence, to take action. Unsurprisingly, these are sometimes not heeded when victims might not know who they can trust to hear them, believe them and help them without judgment.

Soothing the Nation

TEARS Foundation, one of South Africa’s foremost anti-GBV organisations, now proudly launches the Soothing the Nation campaign — a deeply moving initiative designed to confront the country’s gender-based violence crisis – by taking a step back and letting people know that there is somewhere for them to turn… a place they can trust. The work done by TEARS Foundation by offering free, confidential help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, acts as a soothing lullaby that can be heard across the nation by survivors of all types of abuse.

TEARS Foundation has become a national symbol of hope. Its robust network connects survivors to emergency shelters, medical care, child-friendly centres, and legal assistance. Their team provides hands-on support with police follow-ups, protection order applications, and strategies for safely exiting abusive environments.

By making the most of the innovative technology at our disposal, TEARS Foundation connects survivors to critical resources through multiple platforms, ensuring help is always just a call or click away:

Toll-Free Helpline: Call 08000 TEARS (08000 83277) for immediate, confidential support.
Free USSD Service: Dial *134* 7355# for SMS-based assistance locating nearby support facilities.
Direct Line: Reach out on 010 590 5920 (standard rates apply).
WhatsApp: Send your message to 066 435 3108.
Support Locator: Visit tears.storefind.mobi to locate local support centres.
Email Support: Contact info@tears.co.za for additional guidance.