ANNUAL REPORT

1 April 2007- 31 March 2008

Vision:

To provide humanitarian assistance, rehabilitation and empowerment to all sexual assault and domestic violence survivors as well as services to those infected or affected with HIV/Aids as a result of sexual assault.

1. Introduction:

The Annual Report is compiled for the time period of 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 with the purpose of ensuring openness and transparency between the organization, board of trustees, stakeholders, partner-NGO's, involved Departments and community members.

2. Victim Friendly Care Rooms of GRIP as to date:


3. Strategic Planning and Expansion:

Strategic Planning took place within GRIP during July 2007 where the Management staff of GRIP together with the executive members compiled clear and reachable objectives for the next 3 years. A strategic planning document was drafted and approved describing the new vision, mission, objectives and future planning for the organization. Focus was also placed on a new donor (Pepfar) and the correct utilization of the available funding that will be received in October 2008. The decision of expanding GRIP geographically and to open 8 new care rooms was approved by all involved parties. 4 New Care Rooms will open in October 2008 in the Piet Retief Area and 4 New Care rooms in the Bushbuckridge Area. The areas were identified by the Provincial Commissioner of SAPS- Africa Kumalo- and the Head of the Social Crime Prevention Unit- Superintendent Antoinette Nkosi. GRIP is currently in the planning phase of the expansions with visits and networking meetings already conducted in the Piet Retief area.

4. Challenges and successes regarding the Care Room Intervention:

Challenges:

GRIP has requested approval from the HOD of Health regarding the opening of a Care Room in Matikwane Hospital (Hazyview). Approval was not granted and poor communication was received from the Department. It is believed that GRIP was not allowed to open a Care Room in this Hospital due to the fact that it is a semi-private hospital and that the Department of Health must pay the semi-private department for services rendered. The Department did not lobby for GRIP to get involved, and consequently the room was not opened as to date.
At times Police Stations are not stocking sufficient Crime Kits. This caused many problems over the past year but currently GRIP was given permission to take over the stock control of Crime Kits at certain Policed Stations causing more effective management of the Kits. Some Police officers misuses the GRIP resources at the Care Rooms (photo copier machines) and must be constantly reminded that the resources in the Care Rooms belong to GRIP. On 28 September our Matsulu Defuser , Gladness was shot by her ex-boyfriend and died on 1 October 2007. Brutality towards our survivors and our defusers and staff remains a challenge.
The Hazyview Care room is situated in a little room that is unpractical and too small to be victim friendly. GRIP is waiting for the relocating of the entire Hazyview Police station to a new building and can therefore not renovate the current structure. It is still unclear when the Police Station is moving to the new buildings.

Challenges were experienced at the Rob Fereira Care Room when the Hospital experienced a shortage of doctors over weekends and after hours. Discussions took place with the Acting CEO and the Manager or Doctors and the decision was taken in March 2008 to allow GRIP to contract out a Forensic Nurse in cases of emergencies at different hospitals.

During January 2008 the Area Managers suggested that an internal audit must take place regarding the truthfulness and reliability of the Field work data. During March 2008 a Care Room Investigator was appointed for a period of 3 months in order to conduct a data audit relating to the Field work intervention. Results of this audit will be expected latest July 2008.

Some defusers are not sufficient in English or Afrikaans, only in SiSwati, with the result of GRIP having to arrange extra Volunteers or Counselors for Afrikaans or English speaking persons when the need arises. With appointments of new defusers it must be clearly stipulated that the Defuser must be fluent in English.

The Malelane Care Room has had very low intakes for the previous year and a decision was taken to end the services at Malelane Police Station and to divert our attention and services to Lows Greek Police station where rape and domestic cases are high and prevention are needed.

Successes:

The opening of 2 new care rooms during this period was seen as a success namely Scoemansdal Police Station and Shongwe Hospital. Many police station commissioners has taken pride and trust in the work done in the Care Rooms and has also secured Government funding for resources within the Care Rooms. At White River Police Station the defusers were involved in the "Junior Cops versus victims of abuse" program with the aim of getting more people to visit the care rooms manned by GRIP.
Community Policing Forum meetings were attended throughout the year by the defusers within the specific communities. During June 2007 the Provincial Commissioner of SAPS- Mr. Africa Kumalo- joined hands with GRIP at an Imbizo held in Hazyview and publicly announced his support and appreciation for the services of GRIP.

The Care Rooms also functioned as places of shelter for abandoned children and for survivors who could not return to their homes for safety reasons. The 2 Area Managers are accomplishing achievements at each Care Room and are well respected at Police Stations, Hospitals and the Court. They are competent and professional in their duties and uphold GRIP's name in all the communities that they work in. Both Area Managers are very involved in awareness raising and networking for their care rooms.

HIV support Group Coordinators were identified within each Care Room and received training in order to conduct HIV support groups from each room. Currently all survivors infected with HIV due to sexual assault can take part in a support group at the Care Room where they have reported their cases as part of a aftercare program. The Kabokweni Care Room was officially launched in August 2007 and people from local communities including traditional leaders, local counselors, teachers and school children enjoyed the function with GRIP.

The Department of Social Services did some training for defusers regarding the correct filling in of certain legal forms. Defusers from all the Care Rooms are involved in active outreach programmes at Various Schools in their communities. The relationship with the staff of Rob Ferreira Hospital did improve over the past year. Defusers of different Care Rooms facilitated and took part in the Survivor Children's Party over December 2007. They showed much love and commitment towards the children.

5. Legal Department and Statistics:

Please note that statistics are kept from 1 January 2007 to December 2007 and for the purposes of the annual report these annually statistics will be provided. Each donor and report has a different financial year and the statistics cannot be adapted to each need. Therefore statistics reflects the annual year as from Jan 07 to Dec 07 but are reported as the annual stats.









Malelane Care Room had very little intake and the decision was made to close this Care Room and to open Lows Greek Care Room where there is more cases of rape and domestic violence reported. Captain Sitole -Station Commissioner of Lows Greek has already provided GRIP with the structure and the resources to manage the Victim Friendly Facility. The Station Commissioner of Malelane received a letter giving one month's notice before termination of services.

6. Business Management Department:

The Business Management Department of GRIP underwent restructuring during June 2007. The executive members held meetings discussing financial implications and duplication of duties between the CEO and Business Manager. GRIP was in need of an Accountant and could not afford to appoint an Accountant and a Business Manager. The annual saving for appointing an Accountant and to end the contract with the Business Manager was R 80 000.00 annually. The Business Manager resigned and the position was closed. The CEO took the responsibility of the Business Manager regarding reports, public relations, proposals, fund-raising and business plans.

7. VCT testing and Community Nursing services:

GRIP has a Professional Nurse conducting voluntary HIV testing and counseling to community members from the GRIP office. This is an extra outreach service that GRIP is rendering with the goal of preventative and informative pre- and -post-test-counseling. Medical equipment is obtained from Rob Fereira Hospital and the Department of Social Services is subsidizing this intervention.

GRIP appointed our first Community Nurse in January 2008, who is responsible for HIV follow up testing of our survivors in the comfort and confidentiality of their homes. This ensures that the Field work intervention is more valuable and that survivors are constantly reminded of the importance of follow up tests, continuance of medication, and to ensure healthy living throughout the process of receiving help from GRIP. A total of 38 survivors were tested and counseled in their homes only for the months of January and February 08, and this intervention proves to be needed and appreciated.

8. HIV support Group and Teacher Training Programme.

25 Defusers were trained by Thembi Tshabalala in order to become HIV support Group facilitators. The following Care rooms have active running HIV support groups, Malelane, White River, Kabokweni, Masoyi, and Scoemansdal.

22 Schools in the Lowveld area were indentified that is part of the Teacher trainer intervention of GRIP with the approval of the relevant Circuit Managers. The Teacher trainer was also involved in the Penreach Teacher Outreach Groups where she spoke about GRIP. More or less 700 teachers were reached through the Penreach outreach where GRIP was involved. White River Primary school also received intensive talks from GRIP regarding sexual issues. Tenteleni Volunteers were trained by our trainer and Somcuba, Sibuyile, Sindzawonye and Pholani Primary School Teachers received training. Together with Legogote, Nkanyeni, Manzini, Kwetsi, Christion, Mahusho Toy Centre, Sikhulile Educare, Uthinga School, Ntataise Lowveld and Makhabela Pre-school.

9. Staff Matters:

During the past year Teambuilding and a Strong Cohesion Spirit between staff members were infested in with positive changes resulting in trust, respect and people striving for a common goal and vision within the organization. Some of the activities included staff breakfast outings, mountain hikes, a Kruger Park Visit, a Christmas lunch for all staff and defusers, waterfall visits, and tubing on the Sabie River.

Staff meetings are held once a month where all successes and challenges are discussed. Monthly defuser meetings also take place where the Defuser of the Month is announced and receives a financial reward. A Retention Policy was approved and implemented for effectively retaining staff. All staff and defusers also received Funeral Plans during this period.
A suggestion box was placed in the office where suggestions or problems can be brought under the attention of the CEO. All staff received a Staff Policy, Code of Conduct and Strategic Plan. A new staff policy was approved by the Trustees on 1 March 2008.

Penny Macfarlane is rendering counseling and debriefing sessions to all staff and defusers on a weekly basis, who suffers from personal problems or from secondary traumatization due to the emotional load of the work. All the GRIP staff is currently involved in a Socio-drama practice group, with the goal of performing a drama describing the emotional state of a survivor. All staff and defusers were evaluated according to their performance, and receive performance related bonuses in December 2007.

Resignations for the previous year:
Nontu Mlambo- Teacher Trainer
Sanette Matheuss- Business Manager
Kat Patterson- Peace Corps Volunteer (contract ended)

Newly appointments for the previous year:
Thembi Tshabalala: Teacher Trainer
Annesta Hofer CEO
Colette Coetzee Accountant
Nokulunga Sibuya Receptionist
Ntombi Sibalele Professional Community Nurse

We had to say fair well to two of our beloved defusers who passed away during 2007, Gladness Mashlongo and Aveshei .

10 Training opportunities:

The CEO conducted training to all staff members on 3 occasions relating to Job Descriptions, Criminal Law, and the History of Rape.

23 Defusers received advanced Counselling Training done by Childline and 22 Defusers received Child Centered Counseling Training, also done by Childline. All staff completed Computer Training courses. The 2 Area Managers and the Legalist successfully completed UNISA Certificates. The CEO, Area Managers and Legalist received FASSET training on Project Management. Resource Mobilization and Fundraising and Marketing courses were attended by the CEO. 10 Staff members attended a workshop on Organizational Growth done by IDASA.
The CEO attended two workshops on Monitoring and Evaluation. 4 Defusers are currently enrolled for HIV counseling UNISA certificates and the Legalist is in the process of completing her Para-Legal Diploma. The 2 Area Managers, CEO and Accountant attended a workshop at SAITS with the topic of rape relating to post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Defusers received training on Domestic Violence, Hospital Intervention, Fieldwork Intervention, Court Preperations, HIV support group facilitating and HIV discussions.

The Accountant and Assistant Accountant received training from SETA on Financial Management and received Pastel and Payroll training.

11 Important meetings and networking with stakeholders:

Various Community Policing Forum Meetings are attended monthly by staff members. The CEO and staff attended the new opening of the Nelspruit Police Station. The donors from Amnesty (London) visited GRIP on 2 occasions. The CEO is the Vice-Chairperson of the Mbombela Welfare Forum, where all NGO's in Nelspruit network once a month. The AGM of Childline, Nelspruit Community Forum and SAVF was attended by GRIP. The CEO attends monthly Court Stakeholders meetings at the Regional Court in Nelspruit. GRIP also attended the launch of SALWA (South Africas' Lawyers Women's Association). GRIP is a member of the LCBT and attends regular breakfast meetings. The CEO was invited and attended the Budget Speech of the MEC for Safety and Security. GRIP was entered in the KPMG Community Builder competition, The Old Mutual Community Builder competition and the LCBT Community Builder competition and won the prestigious Diamond Arrow Award from the Leaders and Achievers Department of the PMR Mpumalanga Awards.

GRIP was visited by the Nelson Mandela's Childrens Fund twice with the donor "Comic Relieve" who has started to fund GRIP through Nelson Mandela Fund, and with Nedbank, who is interested to learn more about our services.

The CEO attended a Thanks Given evening at Herfsakker Old Aged Home, a Launch of The Lawyers for Human Rights' research on Domestic Violence in Durban, a HAST meeting at the Department of Health and a Substance Abuse meeting at the Department of Social Services.

Meetings were conducted with the Provincial Crime Prevention Unit under the supervision of the Provincial Commissioner- Africa Kumalo, with the goal of expanding GRIP geographically.

The Director of the UBS (United Bank Switzerland) visited GRIP and ensured continues support and increased funding. We were also invited to the Opening of the UBS Bank in Johannesburg in February 2008.

3 Counselors of the Similele Victim Support Centre in Cape Town visited GRIP for a week orientation to our project. GRIP met with the Ngodwana and Louws Greek Police Stations in order to provide guidance and assistance with their individually managed Victim Friendly Facilities. Machadodorp Police Station has requested GRIP to take on a partnership, but GRIP still awaits funding for expansion to Machadodorp.

12 Marketing and Awareness Raising:

Bi-monthly newspaper articles are published in our local newspaper- The Lowvelder.
An exhibition of GRIP was held at the Tswane University's Open Awareness Day.
GRIP had information stalls at the Airshow and the Lowveld Show during 2007.
Continues Awareness Raising takes place with the Halls Farming/ Mataffin Community relating to HIV and rape. GRIP defusers and staff gave presentations to communities on Youth Day. The Scouts took hands for GRIP and fundraised Care Packs as well as pupils from Penryn College.

The CEO held a talk on Radio Lowveld and the Legalist on Radio Ligwalagwala, promoting our services to communities. The GRIP website is updated every month and we do receive many responses on our website.

The CEO was locked up for CANSA as part of their fundraising strategy and in so doing also reached out to another NGO. The motivational speaker, Alison, held a morning talk for GRIP, and 150 people attended this inspirational morning where people were also entertained by the GRIP choir. GRIP was a finalist in the LCBT award ceremony and received awareness through our Video Footage showing at the night of the Gala Banquet. GRIP won the PMR award for the Best NGO in Mpumalanga and especially the NGO doing the most in Mpumalanga fighting HIV. GRIP took part in various presentations, talks and exhibitions relating to the 16 Days of Activism across the Lowveld Region.

Defusers at each Care Room conducts outreach programmes as part of their duties to various schools, churches and community gatherings within their specific communities.

13 Evaluation and Monitoring:

GRIP had an external evaluation done of the total of GRIP related services and a copy of the Evaluation Report can be forwarded on request. GRIP believes in annually, external evaluations in order to keep the goal of evaluation as objective and realistic as possible. New ideas and identified challenges that follow after a evaluation report are given direct and active attention to and practical plans are implemented in rectifying any irregularities.

GRIP is a growing organization and challenges will be throughout the life span of any organization in any phase, but with the correct guidance from the Executive members and the Board of Trustees, so challenge is without a action plan.

Monitoring :

GRIP's Vision, Mission and Objectives are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound. Within GRIP monitoring is a routine process of data collection and measurement of progress toward achievement of our programs and objectives.

Within GRIP there is strict Reporting Procedures that involves daily, weekly and monthly record keeping of all cases and monthly reporting to the CEO. There is internal reporting that is monitoring our services and external reporting in the form of Progress and Annual Reports as well as Business Plans to donors. Reporting is done timeously and coordination is the key.

GRIP has clearly defined inputs, outputs, outcomes and impact. We also strive that our data have quality and that all data is valid, reliable, timeliness, precise and has integrity. When it came under our attention that some of the Fieldwork data is not correct, we immediately decided on a data audit regarding the intervention and we expect results by July 2008.

14 Important Reports completed:

Progress Reports (Bi-annually ) for the Department of Social Services.
Business Plan 2008/2009 for the Department of Social Services.
Progress Reports for the Nelson Mandela's Children's Fund.
New Proposals for the UBS Optimus foundation.
Progress Reports for the Firelight Foundation (USA).
PEPFAR Application.
Strategic Document, Retention Policy and Staff Policy.
PEPFAR- Country Operational Plan (COP)
Registered with the Greater Good South Africa foundation.
Information report on Domestic violence and the law.
Information report on GRIP's Court Intervention.
Information report on GRIP's Hospital Intervention.
Information report on the Sexual Offence Bill- Criminal Law.,
New funding application for the National Lottery Board.
New funding application for the Stars Foundation (England).
New funding application for the NEPAD Spanish Fund.
New funding application for the FNB Community building Fund.
Clarins Progress Report.
Research document on the History of Rape.

15. GRIP Donors: Continues donors:

• Department of Social Services
• UBS (Optimus Foundation)-Switzerland
• Nelson Mandela's Children's Fund.
• Firelight Foundation- USA
• Amnesty International- London
• PEPFAR (America)-receiving from October 08

Periodic donors:

• Sappi
• Anglo American
• Emnotweni Casino
• Halls and sons
• Lions and Club 82 (pensioners)
• Curves Gym.

Awaiting Approval:

• Stars Foundation- England (will announce in June 2008)
• Nepad-Spanish fund
• FNB- South Africa.

16 Financial Report

17 Closure:

GRIP would like to thank all our valuable and passionate stakeholders, Community Based NGO's, partners, donors, Government Departments, survivors, Board of Trustees, volunteers, defusers, staff and friends for taking hands in campaigning for compassion.

Annesta Hofer
CEO