Tears Foundation seeks funding and volunteers to sustain their work nationwide
SANDTON – Tears Foundation is in need of funding and volunteer counsellors this holiday season.
Tears (Transform Education About Rape and Sexual Abuse) Foundation is a nationwide crisis intervention centre desperately in need of help in the form of funding and volunteers to continue their work.
The foundation, which is located in Sandton, was started in 2012 to provide access to crisis intervention, advocacy and prevention education services for those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault or child sexual abuse at no charge.
Tears functions as a mobile phone portal connected to a database of service providers allowing victims in crisis to contact them and receive contact information for the nearest care facility providing support in their vicinity.
Victims are assisted to open a case, go to the hospital and receive counselling through this service.
Founder of the foundation, Mara Glennie, was herself a victim of physical and sexual abuse by her husband and founded Tears to assist others to find help quickly when in a time of crisis.
Glennie said that the foundation received 31 286 phone calls nationwide last year and expects to receive even more this year.
Tears receives a small grant from Avon to part-fund the helpline costs and the rest of the funding comes from family and friends.
“We are on the brink of closing every month due to a lack of funds, so if anyone works for a company with a CSI budget, we are asking them to help us,” said Glennie.
She also requests that members of the public host fundraising events in support of Tears, adding that she will send a speaker and hand out brochures at the events.
Glennie requests that trained counsellors volunteer to assist the foundation over the holiday period when abuse rates are highest.
During the 16 Days of Activism campaign, Tears invites South Africans to take a selfie, marking their right cheek with lipstick in solidarity with victims of abuse and post it on social media using the hashtags #SpeakOut, #SpeakOutSelfie and #MakeYourMark and include Tears’ social media handles.
Selfies will then be shared on the website www.16daysofactivism.co.za.
“We are calling upon all South Africans to speak out against rape and abuse in support of those who are too afraid or unable to speak out against their abusers,” said Glennie.
Details: To contact Tears if you are in a crisis, dial *134*7355# and receive information about three places that can provide help in your vicinity. To volunteer or donate, contact Mara on info@tears.co.za.
