Company: TEARS Foundation, Sandton, Gauteng
Company Description: TEARS Foundation is a leading GBV organisation specializing in providing access to crisis intervention, advocacy, counselling, and prevention education services for those impacted by sexual violence and abuse. Confidential services are provided to all victims at no charge, regardless of ethnicity, religion, culture or socio-economic background.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Organization of the Year - Non-Profit or Government Organizations - Small
 Nomination Title: TEARS Foundation
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the achievements of the nominated organization since 1 January 2021, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated organization: its history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 200 words used.
Mara Glennie started TEARS Foundation from her dining room table. A survivor of intimate-partner-violence, she was turned away from the police station and was told to return after the weekend because no one was available to assist her then. She never returned. Years after healing, she started TEARS determined that no victim or survivor of Sexual-Gender-based Violence-and-Femicide (SGBVF) should be without help.
Established for over ten years, self-funded for the first seven years, TEARS Foundation is now a nationally recognized organisation with 20 paid staff and 5 volunteers divided between two departments, Administration and Interventions.
TEARS Foundation offers a range of services including free national crisis intervention service enabled through technology, we provide advocacy, support, counselling and prevention education services to anyone impacted by sexual violence and abuse, regardless of whether or not it’s been reported to the police or when it took place.
South Africa is burdened with pervading violence compounded by social prejudice, our services are anchored in the principle of human dignity, gender equality and the alleviation of poverty.
TEARS Foundation’s technology-facilitated assistance services provide a unique transformative opportunity to empower women and young girls to reach out for free, empathetic, nonjudgmental assistance, 24/7 on mobile phones.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the organization's achievements since the beginning of 2021 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 250 words used.
South Africa is in a technological revolution, illustrated by the proliferation of mobile phones with 76% of citizens using mobile phones. More Africans have access to mobile phones than to clean drinking water. Digital technology plays a vital role with more people becoming users of technology.
TEARS has used technology-facilitated Gender-based-Violence (GBV) Assistance for over a decade. Our Help-at-your-fingertips® USSD mobile platform provides survivors with a range of options to access free assistance anywhere in South Africa 24/7. TEARS mobile technology identifies the victim’s location, enabling our system to send information for 3 resources nearest to the caller, whether it be a police station, a hospital or counselling services. In this way, help is dispatched quickly.
Assisting those in life-threatening situations led to a partnership with Namola, a leading tech-enabled emergency response service. This high-tech service is integrated into Help-at-your-fingertips® allowing victims to receive a call from Namola within seconds of requesting assistance.
Our technology-facilitated programs provide statistical data, identifying numerous variables, thereby creating a much-needed evidence-based service to prevent GBV.
2021 We were recognized by TT100 for our effort innovating technology. We received Overall Excellence in the Director-General Award from The Department of Science and Innovation. Additionally, we were finalist for Management of Technology, for how organisations manage their technology through “tools” and metrics to best position their services to maximize their market share.
TEARS’ unique service has assisted over a quarter of a million people since inception, with 134 214 inbound called received between January and December 2022.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 249 words used.
TEARS has a unique service, offering a range of simple, user-friendly technology-facilitated programs to assist victims of SGBVF nationally 24/7. Our reporting systems provide statistical analysis unique to our industry. We’re currently working with Prof. Corné Davis, University of Johannesburg, on a GBV data analysis report in collaboration with other high-profile players in the GBV field.
TT100 Award from the Director General of the Department of Science and Innovation is recognized as the premier business excellence award in South Africa. This celebration of excellence is for our efforts developing a conceptual framework of technology-facilitated-GBV-assistance, contributing towards the improvement of the country’s response to and prevention of SGBVF .
Anchored in the principle of human dignity, TEARS Foundation advances gender equity, inclusion and the alleviation of poverty worldwide. In partnership with NGO’s, government and private sector partners, we assist survivors/victims, develop and guide strategy and build capacity to promote evidence-based policies, programs and practices. TEARS has been at the forefront of efforts to understand the causes and economic costs of SGBVF and transforms the gender norms that perpetuate it. The prevalence of sexual violence and abuse remains a concern in South Africa. The dire need for innovative solutions to address violence in our country drives us to use the transformative power of technology to address gender inequality and unequal social relations.
We know we can make a difference nationally in the fight against sexual violence and abuse in South Africa. Our work is not finished, and we cannot do it alone.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 161 words used.
https://tears.co.za/
Awards and recognitions TEARS received in 2021:
- 2021 TT100 finalists in the Awards under the sections Management of Technology and Sustainability and receive the Overall Excellence in the Director-General Award from The Department of Science and Innovation for 2021.
- Runner-up for the Conscious Leadership Award for the Conscious Companies Award 2021 in the NPO Category.
- 13th of March 2021, TEARS Founder received the Leadership Award 2021 from Every Girl Wins, for demonstrating strong leadership skills in her life, community, and career as a Gender-Based Violence Advocate in South Africa.
- Help-at-your-fingertips® received silver in the Social Transformation subcategory: Social Development Award for the Gauteng Premiers Service Excellence Awards.
TEARS Foundation is in the business of saving lives. We believe in our moto, “Bringing hope and Healing”. TEARS has proven the value of harnessing technology, using innovative approaches needed to empower and educate South Africans, particularly women and children (most affected by SGBVF), to get support and prevent SGBVF.
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