As part of raising awareness about gender-based violence during the 16 Days of Activism Campaign, our staff had the privilege of hearing from Jes Foord, founder of the Jes Foord Foundation and a powerful advocate for survivors of gender-based violence. Jes shared her personal story with honesty and courage, reminding us of both the human impact of sexual violence and the importance of supporting survivors with compassion and urgency.
Jes went on to explain the work of the Jes Foord Foundation, which provides trauma counselling, survivor support packs (handbag project), community education programmes, and initiatives such as the Learners Awareness Impact Programme and the Young Men’s Mentorship Programme aimed at prevention and awareness. She also highlighted sobering statistics showing how widespread and underreported rape remains in South Africa.
A key part of Jes’s presentation focused on the critical steps rape survivors should and shouldn’t take to ensure perpetrators are successfully identified and prosecuted.
Jes stressed that rape survivors in South Africa should go directly to a Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC, specialised clinics designed to support victims of sexual assault. These centres offer free, one-stop, trauma-sensitive services, including medical care, forensic evidence collection, counselling, and assistance with police reporting. Because TCCs integrate medical, legal, and psychological support under one roof, they significantly improve the chances of both survivor recovery and successful prosecution of rapists.
Jes’s message left staff deeply moved and better informed. Her courage and advocacy continue to inspire action and awareness, reminding us of our collective responsibility to support survivors and contribute to a safer, more accountable society.