Mara Glennie has won Best Social Organization of the Year Award

Mara Glennie has won Best Social Organization of the Year Award

• May 06, 2025

Mara Glennie: A Lifeline in South Africa's GBV Crisis
Nominee, Women Icon Awards 2025 | Powered by Times Women

When Survival Sparks Revolution

In a country where a woman is murdered every three hours and nearly half will experience intimate partner violence, Mara Glennie didn't just survive gender-based violence - she built the infrastructure of hope that South Africa desperately lacked. Her creation of TEARS Foundation represents one of the nation's most vital responses to a crisis that continues to shame our society.

The Gaps That Demand Action

South Africa's GBV statistics paint a devastating picture of systemic failure:

• Only 1 in 9 rapes are reported to police
• Fewer than 10% of reported cases result in convictions
• Shelters and services remain inaccessible to 72% of rural women

It was into these gaps that Glennie launched TEARS Foundation in 2012, transforming her personal experience of abuse into an organization that has since become synonymous with survivor support. "We exist because the systems meant to protect women are fundamentally broken," Glennie states. "When I needed help, I was turned away. TEARS ensures no survivor ever hears 'come back tomorrow' when their life is in danger today."

Thirteen Years of Tangible Change

TEARS Foundation's impact manifests through innovative, survivor-centred solutions:

The foundation's award-winning USSD helpline (*134*7355#) provides free, immediate access to help regardless of location or resources. Accessible on any mobile phone without internet, this service has fielded over 500,000 cries for help since its launch - a digital lifeline in a country where smartphones remain unaffordable for many.

Beyond crisis response, TEARS built comprehensive support networks that guide survivors through complex legal and medical processes. From obtaining protection orders to navigating forensic exams, the organisation's trauma-informed approach ensures survivors find not just services, but dignity and understanding.

The recent launch of the TEARS Training Academy marks a strategic evolution, equipping police officers, social workers, and corporate HR teams with survivor-centered response skills. These programmes address the harsh reality that even well-meaning professionals often retraumatise those seeking help.

Why This Work Matters Now More Than Ever

As femicide rates continue to climb and conviction rates stagnate, TEARS Foundation's model proves that change is possible. The organisation's 2024 "A Call to Prioritise GBV in South Africa" research report revealed that 68% of survivors who accessed TEARS’ services, reported better outcomes than those relying solely on state systems.,

"This nomination isn't about me," Glennie emphasises. "It's about every survivor who has been failed by the system. It's proof that when we centre survivors' needs in both policy and practice, we can save lives."

The Unfinished Revolution

While celebrating these accomplishments, Glennie remains focused on the work ahead: training more and more first responders, expanding rural access, strengthening partnerships with the justice system, and pushing for policy reforms that treat GBV with the urgency it demands. "In a country where violence has become normalised, TEARS exists to say 'enough.' Every life we touch represents a challenge to the status quo," Glennie asserts. "This recognition from Women Icon Awards amplifies that challenge - and we intend to make the most of it."