TEARS Foundation has been recognized with a 2025 Global Recognition Award for its significant impact in combating gender-based violence in South Africa. Founded in 2012 by Mara Glennie, this woman-led organization grew from humble beginnings at Glennie’s dining room table into a national force that provides critical support services to survivors of rape and abuse.

The Foundation’s work addresses a critical need in South Africa, where over 106,001 rape cases were reported in 2023/2024 alone. Through its comprehensive support systems, TEARS has created pathways to healing for countless survivors while simultaneously working to change the societal conditions that enable gender-based violence.

Innovative Technology Saving Lives

TEARS Foundation distinguishes itself through its revolutionary approach to victim support using technology that makes critical services accessible when survivors need them most. The Foundation’s innovative HELP-AT-YOUR-FINGERTIPS® service offers a free, accessible 24/7 mobile solution that connects victims with nearby support services through a simple *134*7355# code, instantly linking them to medical facilities, legal assistance, shelters, and counseling services.

The USSD platform has also opened the doors to educational content for youth. This initiative is called “Speak Up” and includes 23 videos across 4 languages. The content is also free to watch for the end user – ensuring accessibility for all.

The organization has developed this innovative mobile platform that removes traditional barriers often preventing survivors from seeking help, particularly in developing regions where digital solutions must function across varied technological constraints. Their approach enables immediate crisis intervention during vulnerable moments, potentially saving lives through rapid response capabilities and connecting individuals to resources they might otherwise never discover.

Their social media efforts are using this impactful ecosystem to reach millions of people through Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and TikTok – significantly expanding their ability to support thousands of GBV survivors monthly.

The Foundation’s digital infrastructure functions beyond a simple referral system by creating a comprehensive support ecosystem that tracks and facilitates survivors’ journey toward healing and justice. This innovation has changed existing models of victim support by returning agency to survivors while simultaneously collecting valuable data that informs better service delivery and policy advocacy across South Africa. The system’s high adoption rate and positive user feedback demonstrate how effectively TEARS has combined technological innovation with deep human empathy, creating a model that organizations worldwide have begun to adopt and adapt for their communities.

Educational Leadership Transforming Response Systems

TEARS Foundation has demonstrated exceptional leadership through its newly launched Training Academy Programmes, which address critical gaps in how GBV cases are managed throughout all response levels from first contact to justice. These specialized training programmes introduced at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in December 2024, have been developed to equip police, legal professionals, healthcare workers, educators, and social service providers with practical skills that bridge theoretical knowledge and real-world application. The Academy connects academic understanding with practical implementation, bringing expert guidance to frontline workers who directly impact survivors’ experiences and whose actions can either compound trauma or facilitate healing.

Mara Glennie’s leadership vision extends beyond immediate service provision to address systemic barriers that block women’s access to justice in a country grappling with endemic violence against women. Her strategic approach includes strengthening referral networks that often fail at critical junctures, providing intensive training for frontline GBV responders who may lack specialized knowledge, and improving pathways that enhance survivors’ access to justice through multi-sectoral collaboration. Recently nominated for membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society by the University of Cape Town, Glennie has fostered a collaborative approach that unites various stakeholders around the shared vision of a South Africa where women and children live without fear of abuse.

Community Engagement Redefining Awareness

The Foundation’s January 2025 “Soothing the Nation” campaign introduces a fundamentally different approach to GBV awareness that psychological research suggests may be more effective than traditional methods. Traditional campaigns often focus on victims, perpetrators, or bystanders. In contrast, TEARS introduces South Africans to its identity and mission through what they describe as a “powerful and loud whisper” that acknowledges trauma without reinforcing it. This innovative messaging strategy builds trust by positioning the organization as a source of hope rather than using the direct calls to action typical of most GBV campaigns, which research indicates can create resistance or avoidance in audiences overwhelmed by distressing content.

TEARS Foundation plans to reach an additional one million users in the next decade, building on its 13-year history of meaningful impact through strategic scaling of proven interventions. The organization’s comprehensive approach combines crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling, emergency response, referral systems, and educational programs into an integrated model addressing immediate needs and long-term societal change. Their work demonstrates how visionary leadership and technological innovation create tangible progress despite challenging social problems. It establishes a framework that other organizations studying gender-based violence interventions can analyze and potentially replicate in different contexts.

Final Words

TEARS Foundation excels across multiple domains, from technological innovation and strategic leadership to community service and educational advancement, earning this prestigious recognition. Their balanced approach to combating gender-based violence addresses immediate intervention needs while simultaneously working toward systemic change that targets root causes. Mara Glennie’s forward-thinking leadership continues developing new strategies and partnerships that extend their reach beyond initial expectations, creating ripple effects throughout South African society and the continent.

A 2025 Global Recognition Award celebrates TEARS Foundation’s accomplishments and the groundwork they establish for future progress in a field where measurable success often remains elusive. Their experience demonstrates that meaningful social change requires innovative thinking and dedicated effort sustained over time despite institutional resistance and resource limitations. The organization illustrates how targeted intervention supported by technology and guided by compassionate expertise creates pathways to healing and justice for survivors of gender-based violence, contributing to a future where such violence diminishes through combined prevention and response efforts rather than continuing its destructive cycle.