Nelspruit, Mpumalanga August 25, 2010 - The Greater Rape Intervention Project (GRIP) commemorates August as Women’s month by opening a newly refurbished Shelter for abused women and children.

The Shelter is the only facility in all of Nelspruit that caters for abused women and children and can accommodate 30 survivors at full capacity. The renovations cost over R300 000 with support provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Southern Africa using funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Local businesses such as KPMG Auditing and Accounting and the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development have also donated valuable resources.

The Chairperson of GRIP, a local businessman, John Willcocks, states that, “The Shelter is a perfect example of public-private international cooperation; it will complement our mission to provide humanitarian assistance, rehabilitation and empowerment of all rape, sexual assault and domestic violence survivors.”

GRIP has a total of 26 Care Room facilities functioning across the Mpumalanga Province. These are strategically located within the South African Police Services' stations, Provincial Hospitals and the Courts.

The residential support shelter for Women and Children will enable victims to become survivors who can access counselling and other forms of support within a safe haven so they can make rational decisions about their lives. Most importantly, GRIP aims to ensure that a survivor does not return to the abusive circumstances she came from. The Shelter also makes provision for children. During their stay, GRIP will ensure that the children attend school and GRIP will support the mother or survivor to learn the necessary skills to become self-sufficient.

Cutting the ribbon to officially open the shelter, USAID Mission Director, Jeff Borns, said, “As we cut this ribbon to open the Rape Intervention Center, let us symbolically open our hearts and extend compassion to those who will need to use the safe haven. May they find loving care, attention and every possible support within these walls from the staff trained and entrusted to provide it.

According to Colette Coetzee, GRIP’s Donor Relations Coordinator, 96% of the rape survivors that have received GRIP’s services come from under-resourced communities. “These areas have poor infrastructure, unsafe public transport systems and minimal police protection. These circumstances encourage the increase of violent crimes. The communities are also characterised by limited employment opportunities, overcrowding, and lack of educational facilities and extensive HIV and AIDS related issues and alcoholism. All these factors impact strongly on violence.” she said.

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GRIP was established in 2000, in response to the high levels of rape, domestic violence and sexual assault. Key representatives from the government departments such as Social Development and Safety and Security will attend to witness the opening ceremony.

USAID

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided economic, development and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years. Further information about USAID South and Southern African programs are available at the links below. In Southern Africa, the United States seeks to increase trade and strengthen economic ties within the region, address the HIV/AIDS crisis, mitigate recurrent food insecurity, and strengthen democracy to reduce the risk of conflict in the region. USAID/Southern Africa complements and enhances USAID’s bilateral programs, supporting unique and innovative regional activities and providing a range of services to assist USAID missions in the region.

Contact: Colette Coetzee, Donor Relations Co-ordinator
Tel: 013 72 4404; Mobile: 083 379 2692