
What is SPEAK UP?
SPEAK UP is a free user-friendly tool you can use on your cellphone. You can get information about topics that your community doesn’t always want to talk about, like pregnancy, rape, sexual violence, HIV/AIDS or menstrual cycle. You can use any cellphone device or tablet.
SPEAK UP is for you if:
- You want to learn more about relationships and sexuality
- As a victim of gender-based violence, you want to discreetly find information to help cope with the situation.
- As a witness to gender-based violence, you want to get advice to help someone else.
- You feel unsafe and need trustworthy advice to help you decide if your situation is abusive.
- As a peer leader, you need information to help you lead group discussions.
Click on the chat box and complete the form to watch the videos in your language of choice!

What is SPEAK UP?
SPEAK UP is a free user-friendly tool you can use on your cellphone. You can get information about topics that your community doesn’t always want to talk about, like pregnancy, rape, sexual violence, HIV/AIDS or menstrual cycle. You can use any cellphone device or tablet.

SPEAK UP is for you if:
- You want to learn more about relationships and sexuality
- As a victim of gender-based violence, you want to discreetly find information to help cope with the situation.
- As a witness to gender-based violence, you want to get advice to help someone else.
- You feel unsafe and need trustworthy advice to help you decide if your situation is abusive.
- As a peer leader, you need information to help you lead group discussions.
Click on the chat box and complete the form to watch the videos in your language of choice!
What is Gender-Based Violence?
Gender-based violence is any type of harm used against a person because of their gender, sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Gender-based violence is not just physical violence. There are different types of gender-based violence.

Physical Violence
This is an act attempting to cause pain and/or physical injury. Examples include:
- Beating
- Burning
- Kicking
- Punching
- Biting
- Murder
- Domestic Abuse
- Using objects or weapons against a person
Sexual Violence
This is a non-consensual (when you do not agree to) touching or sex or forcing someone to do non-consensual sexual acts. Examples include:
- Rape
- Forced unsafe sex
- Sexual harassment
- Stalking
- Genital mutilation
- Forced pregnancy
- Forced abortion
- Forced sterilisation
Verbal Violence
This is regular and deliberate verbal abuse. Examples include:
- Humiliating a person
- Threatening a person
- Hate speech against a person or a group of people
Socio-economic Violence
A person who relies on a partner (boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife) financially may be vulnerable to socio-economic violence. Women are most affected because, culturally, men are often expected to earn the money and women are expected to stay at home to look after the family. Examples include:
- Take away the earnings of the victim or not allowing them to have a separate income (money)
- Making a victim unfit to work by physically abusing them.
Psychological effects of sexual violence and abuse
- Stress/anxiety/depression
- Suicide thoughts
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Low self-esteem
- Fear and shame
- Paranoid behavior
You are the LEADERS OF TOMORROW.
It’s important that you make informed, healthy decisions about relationships, including heathy sexual relationships.
Our Video Content
In today’s changing world, growing up isn’t always easy. Our informative videos will guide you through some difficult topics to help you make informed decisions about sex, relationships, HIV, pregnancy, and other topics related to your human rights.
- NSPEAK UP will share the truth with accurate, easy to understand content, providing reliable resources and information.
- NSPEAK UP will give you the chance to think critically about gender and about your role in your culture and society.
- NIn line with TEARS Foundation's philosophy, all services are FREE.
- NAll SPEAK UP videos are interactive and are suitable for all ages.

Watch our videos
Click on the chat box and complete the form
to watch the videos in your language of choice!
How it works
Click on the chat box to get the link to watch the videos in your language of choice OR dial our free 24/7 USSD helpline number from any cellphone or tablet:
There are 3 Options
- $Find your nearest Centre
- $Emergency: Get Help
- $Speak-up Educational Vids

If you have a phone with internet access, select option 3 to watch the SPEAK UP educational videos.
- You'll be asked to share your gender, province, race and age (no personal information is shared with anyone).
- Choose the topic you want to watch.
When you have watched the videos, you can choose to have someone from our call centre contact you. You can choose from one of the following options:
- $Call me within 24 hours
- $Emergency, call me now (someone will call you immediately)
- $WhatsApp only (someone will contact you within 24 hours)
- $WhatsApp from another number (We recommend using this option if an abuser is monitoring your phone rather use a trusted friend of family member's WhatApp)
- $SMS only
- $No (don't contact me)
We encourage you to have someone from our call centre call you if you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual violence or abuse.
You are NOT ALONE. We are able to help you.
You do not have to stay silent. SPEAK UP’!
Some Tips
Trust your instincts
If you think you are in danger, then you probably are get to a safe place quickly.
Memorize emergency numbers
Know the numbers for the police, crisis centres or even a trusted teacher.
If you leave an abusive relationship
Make sure not to use the internet phones or email in a way that lets your abuser know you are leaving.
Reach out
If you feel comfortable, speak to someone you trust like a parent or teacher.
IF YOU ARE RAPED
- Get to a safe place quickly.
- Don’t bathe or change your clothes, they can be used as evidence.
- Contact a friend/family you trust, they can be a witness should you report the attack to the police.
- The decision to report your attack to the police is entirely yours. It is recommended that you do this to help stop others from being raped by the same person.
- Try to remember and write down as much detail as possible to report to the police.
- Try to remember and write down as much detail as possible to report to the police.
- If you were drunk or stoned when you were raped, don’t let that stop you from reporting it, you can still get help.
At the police station you have the right to:
- Make a statement in a private room.
- Make your statement to a female officer, if there is one.
- Make your statement in your own language.
- Have a friend/family member with you for support.
Remember:
- Ask for a copy of your statement (you’re entitled to by law)
- Write down the name of the Investigating Officer, case number and the phone number for the police station so you can call to check the progress of your case.

Some Tips

Trust your instincts
If you think you are in danger, then you probably are get to a safe place quickly.
Memorize emergency numbers
Know the numbers for the police, crisis centres or even a trusted teacher.
If you leave an abusive relationship
Make sure not to use the internet phones or email in a way that lets your abuser know you are leaving.
Reach out
If you feel comfortable, speak to someone you trust like a parent or teacher.
IF YOU ARE RAPED
- Get to a safe place quickly.
- Don’t bathe or change your clothes, they can be used as evidence.
- Contact a friend/family you trust, they can be a witness should you report the attack to the police.
- The decision to report your attack to the police is entirely yours. It is recommended that you do this to help stop others from being raped by the same person.
- Try to remember and write down as much detail as possible to report to the police.
- Try to remember and write down as much detail as possible to report to the police.
- If you were drunk or stoned when you were raped, don’t let that stop you from reporting it, you can still get help.
At the police station you have the right to:
- Make a statement in a private room.
- Make your statement to a female officer, if there is one.
- Make your statement in your own language.
- Have a friend/family member with you for support.
Remember:
- Ask for a copy of your statement (you’re entitled to by law)
- Write down the name of the Investigating Officer, case number and the phone number for the police station so you can call to check the progress of your case.