TEARS Foundation is a women led organization help is provided regardless of ethnicity, religion, culture or socio-economic background or location, TEARS Foundation provides assistance nationwide with a 24 hour free SMS service to anyone who has access to a cellphone.

The service identifies the closest centre to you and we link or connect victims to facilities that offer the following services:

• Individual counselling
• Group counselling/ couples counselling
• Support groups
• Volunteer opportunities
• We link victims to emergency shelters
• Refer to medical facilities for medical attention (for rape victims) so they get access to:
  • Antiretrovirals (ARVs) treatment to avoid the infection of Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV) because HIS is preventable
  • The morning after pill to avoid unwanted pregnancy from the rape
  • Antibiotics for possible Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
  • Blood tests to test for date rape drugs in the blood system
  • Internal medical examination to see the and treat the extend of the victims injuries
  • Access to a medical facility that issues a J88 for court purposes
• We follow-up with the police on behalf of victims who have case numbers
• We give them advice on how to apply for a protection order
• We refer child victims to child friendly facilities
• We guide women and men on how to leave abusive relationships

Confidential services are provided to all victims at no charge. We refer male victims to Mashilo of Moshate Men’s Rights Organization Cell phone number: 082 397 7873, and email address: mashilo@moshomong.co.za.

Brother’s for life Organization Mashilo and South African Male Survivors Of Sexual Abuse (SAMSOSA)

For help you can dial *134*7355# and follow the prompts or call us on 010 590 5920 or send us a message to our Facebook page or email address: info@tears.co.za

Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person’s consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or against a person who is incapable of valid consent, such as one who is unconscious, incapacitated, or below the legal age of consent (16)

Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault.

Sexual assault can range from inappropriate touching, to a life-threatening attack, rape or any other penetration of the mouth, vagina, anus or drug facilitated sexual assault. It’s a myth that victims of sexual assault always look battered and bruised. A sexual assault may leave no outward signs, but it’s still a crime.

Abuse is the improper usage or treatment of an entity, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offence; crime, or otherwise verbal aggression

Emotional abuse (also known as psychological abuse) is any act including confinement, isolation, verbal assault, humiliation, intimidation, infantilization, or any other treatment which may diminish the sense of identity, dignity, and self-worth.

Physical abuse is an intentional act of another party involving contact intended to cause feelings of physical pain, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm.

Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse,  spousal abuse, battering, family violence, dating abuse, and intimate partner violence (IPV), is a pattern of behaviour which involves the abuse by one partner
against another in an intimate relationship such as marriage, cohabitation, dating or within the family.Domestic violence can take many forms, including physical aggression or assault (hitting, kicking, biting, shoving, restraining, slapping, throwing objects, battery), or threats thereof; sexual abuse; emotional abuse; controlling or domineering; intimidation; stalking; passive/covert abuse (e.g., neglect); and economic deprivation.

Date rape is forcible sexual intercourse during a voluntary social engagement in which the “victim” did not intend to submit to the sexual advances and resisted the acts (either by verbal refusal, denials or pleas to stop, and/or physical resistance).

Mara Glennie’s motivation to help others comes from a deeply personal place. TEARS’ developed a system that uses a simple SMS code and GPS location to allow other survivors to connect with much needed help from their nearest care centre, immediately. They are able to do this because of the help they received from others. They run their foundation from a fully equipped office in Sandton, kindly given to them by Dr John Wentzel and the Tsebo Outsourcing Group.