ACTIVITY HAS BEEN MODIFIED IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

Greater Mpumalanga Rape Intervention Program (GRIP) FY 2008 COP activities will be expanded and

enhanced as described below; outcomes will be assessed after completion of the first year of activities, in

October 2009.

One of the two targeted age groups for the peer education program will be modified in FY 2009. In FY 2008,

the target group comprising 10 to 18 year olds will now be limited to included 10 to 14 year olds. GRIP has

been determined that more effective influence, motivation and learning can take place in this revised age

group, whereas in the larger group, the older, and more experienced youths often presented confrontation

and views, influencing the younger group.

GRIP will have to work within the same budgetary constraints as FY 2008, thus it will not be possible to

reach higher targets in FY 2009. FY 2008 targets are considered high in relation to staffing and resources.

The Teacher Trainer and Special Program Facilitator are also included within the preventative services in

FY 2009.

ACTIVITY 1: Enhancements

As mentioned, one of the target groups' age has been revised to include 10 to 14 year olds. The sexual

prevention approach used will predominately be risk avoidance, as many of these youth are not yet sexually

active. The peer education activity will also address the needs of the 15 to 24 age group by developing and

delivering behavior change messages on being faithful and creating an enabling environment for the

practice of preventive behaviors such as consistent and correct use of condoms and partner reduction.

These activities will be linked to on-going community-based support services that provide condoms, offer

HIV testing and initiate referrals for antiretroviral treatment and other HIV and AIDS services.

ACTIVITY 2: Enhancements

The use of teachers as role models and resources/repositories of information on prevention and referrals for

community-based support programs is the central focus and strategy of this activity. GRIP will equip

teachers with knowledge and skills on prevention, gender-based violence and on how to make effective

referrals. This will improve coordination of services and enhance the supportive environment for prevention

of HIV and care of HIV-infected and affected people.

Capacity of a Teacher Trainer, a Special Program Coordinator and a Peer Group Educator will be built

through ongoing training, monitoring, supervision, support, and performance evaluations. Human resources

to support these employees will take the form of job profiles, contracts, staff policies, retention policies and

clearly specified code of conducts and role clarifications. Staff members will also be empowered by ongoing

opportunities to attend training courses and workshops in the field of HIV and AIDS, prevention services

and youth development. The costs of these trainings will be covered by GRIP, that aims to develop capacity

among staff who will directly influence the beneficiaries described in the activity narrative.

This prevention intervention and service delivery is in line with the HIV & AIDS and STI Strategic Plan for

South Africa, 2007-2011 (NSP), specifically with priority area 1, prevention. To meet the goal of reducing

the rate of new infections by 50% by 2011, government, business, civil society and GRIP must work

together and educate people about HIV and AIDS, and encourage people to be tested for HIV. Within this

priority area GRIP is responsible for helping to educate people about HIV and AIDS, including how to

prevent HIV infection, where to get tested, where to get treatment and care. GRIP also reaches out to high-

risk groups to ensure that they access relevant services. GRIP aims to ensure violence against women and

children is stopped.

GRIP is registered with the Mpumalanga Department of Health and Social Services. The organization

submits annual business plans, progress reports and audited statements to the Department. This provincial

department forms part of the National Government of South Africa. The Mpumalanga Department of Health

and Social Services has signed a service level agreement recognizing that GRIP is a reliable, registered

and trusted non-governmental organization rendering services in the field of victim empowerment within the

criminal justice system. The goals of the agreement is for GRIP to empower, rehabilitate and provide

aftercare support o survivors of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence and to allow GRIP to take on

partnerships with the involved Government Departments involved in the Criminal Justice system.

The Department of Education's Circuit Managers also provide consent forms for the schools that they

identify for the Teacher Trainer to be involved in and will also give permission to the Peer Group Educator

for entering certain schools to implement the Peer Group Program. When dealing with prevention and

awareness GRIP ensures that activities are in line with the procedures, policies, acts, bills and plans of the

National South African Government Department.

Male Norms and Behaviors:

GRIP's school-based youth and teacher programs will encourage men to be responsible in their sexual

behavior and child rearing, and to respect women - including the reduction of sexual violence and coercion,

number of sexual partners and cross-generational and transactional sex. GRIP will also focus on behavioral

change programs for boys that promote the positive role men can play in order to increase their HIV

preventative behavior.

Gender Equity in HIV and AIDS Programs:

GRIP's teacher and peer group programs will continue to, and increase the activities that address the

obstacles that women and girls face in accessing health care, ranging from cost of treatment, transportation,

Activity Narrative: and child care, to appropriate appointment schedules, and guarantees of privacy and confidentiality. GRIP's

programs meet the unique needs of women, including the empowerment of women in interpersonal

situations, young people and children and those who are victims of sex trade, rape, sexual abuse, assault

and exploitation.

Women's Legal Rights:

GRIP advocates for the inheritance rights of women, particularly women in rural communities. GRIP's

interventions review, revise and encourage enforcement of laws relating to sexual violence against minors,

including strategies to more effectively protect young victims and punish perpetrators. GRIP ensures

institutional capacity building of government departments within the criminal justice system, and intervenes

with lawyers, prosecutors, law enforcement and service providers on the legal rights of women and children,

and their access to justice. GRIP also works with governments and other civil society groups to eliminate

gender inequalities in civil and criminal code.

Violence and Coercion:

Counseling, referrals and follow-up treatment, and prevention programs about the risk of disclosing status,

including links to shelters for women, support groups in the community and referrals to professional or legal

services are provided to the survivors. GRIP ensures that health workers recognize signs of gender-based

violence and provide appropriate counseling and referral services to social, legal and community based

groups. GRIP trains unemployed women from rural areas as counselors in order to increase the

confidentiality and comfort of women and girls seeking treatment for sexual assault. GRIP also addresses

societal and community norms to reduce stigma, protect women from violence, promote gender quality, and

build conflict resolution skills. All services for survivors of sexual assault/violence will link to the provision of

post-exposure prophylaxis.

---------------------------

SUMMARY:

The Greater Mpumalanga Rape Intervention Program (GRIP) provides holistic services which include

prevention and care for survivors of sexual assaults and domestic violence and for people infected and

affected by HIV and AIDS. GRIP is involved in Abstinence and Being Faithful (AB) activities through

community outreach programs. The emphasis areas are gender and human capacity development. The

target populations are school children (boys and girls), teachers, and the community at large.

BACKGROUND:

GRIP was initiated by volunteers and established in 2000. GRIP started by offering services to all rape and

sexual assault survivors. GRIP started empowering women, men, and children through the process of

preventative education, counseling and testing, post traumatic care, and community outreach. Realizing

the importance of HIV prevention and the need to address sexual assault and domestic violence in the

community, GRIP is involved in two direct prevention services: peer education and teacher training. The

prevention strategies include creating awareness on HIV and AIDS with special emphasis in addressing the

plight of sexual assault and domestic violence survivors. This program will protect children, teachers,

communities, and will uphold the rights and dignity of sexual assault survivors.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

ACTIVITY 1: Peer Education

The aim of the peer education intervention is to encourage abstinence and to delay sexual initiation for

youth aged 10 -14, before they start sexual activity. The program will target boys and girls in schools

between 10 and 18 years old, who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, vulnerable to crime and

experiencing socio-economic challenges within their communities. These children will be identified in

targeted schools by teachers, principals and peers. For the Be faithful component of the AB program, older

youth aged 15 -24 engaging in sexual activity, will be encouraged to adopt secondary abstinence and

reduce number of sexual partners. Full information is provided on correct and consistent condom use for

youth who are already sexually active.

At the beginning of the activities, individual sessions for boys and girls will be conducted separately for

period of three months to identify their needs. After the three months, group sessions for boys and girls will

be conducted separately for a period of six months. At the end of six months, both groups of boys and girls

will be brought together to share what they have learned. GRIP will link this activity to an ongoing

community-based support program and provide guidance to all the children. The children will also

participate in camps, where boys and girls will take part in life skills.

The program is expected to empower children with information, problem-solving techniques, and life skills,

which will lead to enhanced self esteem, and responsible behavior regardless of peer pressure or social

problems. Through role modeling, participants in the program will with others pupils in the school who have

not been through the program with a view to transference of knowledge gained. A monitoring and evaluation

system will be in place for pre and post test of children who have participated in the program.

ACTIVITY 2: Training of Teachers

The goal of the GRIP program is to promote effective, accountable, and sustainable support systems in the

schools and the surrounding communities. GRIP has realized that teachers and school management are

usually reluctant to get involved in sexual assault issues that affect their pupils hence limited support is

given to the victims of sexual assault in schools and the community. FY 2008 funding will therefore address

Activity Narrative: HIV prevention, sexual assault, cross-generational sex, multiple concurrent relationships and domestic

violence information. Training will equip teachers with the skills to identify, support and conduct referrals for

the affected children. The program will enhance community support as all children and youth will be linked

to a support mechanism through community-based forums to ensure that HIV prevention and support is

sustained. Additionally this program will be linked to community and government stakeholders to ensure

ownership and collaboration.

Through this program GRIP aims at improving teachers' abilities to communicate their values and

expectations regarding their pupils' behavior and individual social problems. This will increase awareness

and sensitivity regarding sexual violence and HIV among teachers, pupils, and community. The program will

reinforce the adoption and modeling of prevention behaviors among adults, and engender social sanctions

against risky practices such as cross-generational sex, multiple concurrent partnerships and sexual assault.

GRIP will train teachers selected from identified schools in Mpumalanga. Training will enable them to

identify vulnerable and abused children within their environment, and empower them to report such cases.

GRIP has found that during past trainings, teachers were committed to referring children to GRIP's

intervention. Apart from caregivers, teachers are the most constant adults within the school child's sphere of

reference. Expected results from this program are teachers who are better equipped to identify, support,

and refer affected pupils a community-based support system. This includes providing parents with

continued support and counseling to minimize post-traumatic effects of abuse and to ensure complete

recovery. This activity will be closely monitored and continuously assessed to ensure quality assurance in

the effort to achieve intended results.

These activities, through the variety of approaches will all contribute to the overall PEPFAR goal of averting

seven million new infections.

New/Continuing Activity: Continuing Activity

Continuing Activity: 16484

Continued Associated Activity Information

Activity Activity ID USG Agency Prime Partner Mechanism Mechanism ID Mechanism Planned Funds

System ID System ID

16484 16484.08 U.S. Agency for GRIP Intervention 7311 7311.08 $150,000

International

Development

Emphasis Areas

Gender

* Addressing male norms and behaviors

* Increasing gender equity in HIV/AIDS programs

* Increasing women's legal rights

* Reducing violence and coercion

Human Capacity Development

Estimated amount of funding that is planned for Human Capacity Development $60,436

Public Health Evaluation

Food and Nutrition: Policy, Tools, and Service Delivery

Food and Nutrition: Commodities

Economic Strengthening

Education

Water

Table 3.3.02:

Funds from GRIP AB reprogrammed to GRIP OP. The programme aims to reduce violence in prostitution

settings, and the Prevention of Secondary Trauma caused by family conflict for survivors of rape and

Sexual assault .These prevention programmes are new programmes that will ensure more direct focus on

Sexual prevention programmes which is GRIP's core function.

New/Continuing Activity: New Activity

Continuing Activity:

Table 3.3.03:

ACTIVITY HAS BEEN MODIFIED IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

ACTIVITY 5: Pre-Court Training:

Greater Mpumalanga Rape Intervention Program (GRIP) will continue to utilize the training program of the

Child Witness Program - complete with the toolkit as purchased. GRIP is able to provide an intense 4 day

training program to all children and adults who need empowerment in order to become confident witnesses.

GRIP also holds a graduation party for all rape survivors who the Pre-Court trainers (Friends of the Court)

feel is competent to go to Court. These trainings are done on a continuous basis and there are always new

children in the court systems that need help and support. The Pre-Court training is done on Saturdays

when there are no court cases and when the children are not attending school. As a result of negotiations

with the Department of Justice, GRIP is allowed to use the courts on Saturdays in order to train the

survivors within the Court Setup and to sensitize survivors, especially children, within the court building and

court chambers. During one day of the training, a prosecutor from the Department also takes part in the Pre

-Court Training and shows the survivors, through role play, how to act when testifying in court. The survivor

will also receive ongoing support and the help of a witness assistant when she/he enters and proceeds

through the court system, and her/his rights and dignity will be protected by the GRIP Friend of the Court

who is working from within the court itself on a daily basis. Separate Victim-Friendly Waiting rooms and

Child Intermediate rooms are also operated and maintained by GRIP within the court.

GRIP activities include both Adult and Child Care and Support services and includes physical,

psychological, social and integrated care. The approach is to provide integrated care and counseling

services within our program to the survivors of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence. Since GRIP only

receives funding in Adult Care, it has included all survivors with whom GRIP works who report their cases

within the Criminal Justice System, regardless of age, gender or race.

ENHANCEMENTS:

These activities bring together, in a holistic, coordinated fashion, a myriad of essential social support

services for people who have been sexually assaulted, many of whom become infected with HIV as a result.

The GRIP program provides a vehicle for the seamless integration of comprehensive services that provide

care and support for groups that are at high risk of HIV infection.

Thirty community members who are working as Volunteer Counselors will be receiving ongoing training,

monitoring, supervision and support in order to develop human capacity regarding job performance,

reaching of objectives, personal empowerment, and to ensure professional and effective service delivery.

The Administration Officer will receive ongoing training, capacity building, monitoring, supervision and

support in order to ensure sufficient and effective management, financial control, and structure within the

organization. The Area Managers and the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer will receive human capacity

development in order to ensure the ongoing and effective monitoring of all indicators, targets, inputs,

outputs, outcomes and objectives to be reached. The Area Managers will also ensure the effective

operations of six Care Room facilities that are situated within police stations and hospitals and therefore the

Human Capacity Development of these governmental facilities will also improve. The Monitoring and

Evaluation officer will also be able to monitor and assist the two Friends of the Court, who are rendering

their Witness Assistance and Pre-Court Training activities from the two court facilities, also improving the

human capacity development for the Department of Justice. Human Capacity Development will aim at

ensuring that Volunteer Counselors and GRIP staff are adequately trained and capable of empowering

survivors of rape, domestic violence and sexual assault. In addition, GRIP provides extra and ongoing

human capacity support to the Criminal Justice system, which is often understaffed and not well-trained in

the fields of their service delivery.

Within this priority area GRIP is working with victims of sexual assault, rape, domestic violence and those

infected or affected by HIV as a result of sexual assault. GRIP is helping the government to make sure that

everyone in South Africa can get all the necessary services from government, from non-governmental

organizations (NGOs) and from private practitioners. GRIP ensures that people know about all medicines

used in the management of HIV and AIDS- including ARVs, and know how to take care of them. GRIP

supports survivors in taking these medications. GRIP ensures that clinics provide support to people living

with AIDS and help with community outreach so that people living with HIV and AIDS and their families are

getting the support and treatment that they need. GRIP ensures care, love and non-discrimination for our

survivors and those who are HIV-infected. GRIP assist the Government in making sure that the health care

system is strong enough to support people who are living with HIV or are affected by sexual assault.

GRIP increases the amount of people working within the Criminal Justice System.

By ensuring that the rights of people who are exposed to sexual assault and living with HIV are legally

protected and that these people are treated with dignity and respect falls in line with the South African

Government's National Strategic Plan priority area 4: Human Rights and Access to Justice.

GRIP is ensuring that people who are sexually or physically assaulted get justice, counseling and treatment

and understands why people may have problems getting services.

GRIP also ensures that the rights of women and girls are understood and respected so that secondary

trauma can be reduced when they need to enter the Criminal Justice System.

GRIP lobbies that all existing laws to ensure the safety of women and children are carried out and focus on

the needs of people in abusive relationships, and making sure they get the help they need.

-----------------------------

Activity Narrative: SUMMARY:

Greater Mpumalanga Rape Intervention Program (GRIP) provides basic health and care services to

sexually assaulted/domestic violence survivors and people living with HIV (PLHIV). GRIP is involved in

palliative care by supporting care rooms in hospitals, courts, police stations, and providing community-

based support. The emphasis areas are gender and human capacity development. Primary target

populations are survivors of sexual assault including children and adults, and PLHIV and their families.

BACKGROUND:

GRIP was established in 2000 in response to the high levels of sexual assault and domestic violence and

the concordant high levels HIV and AIDS infection transferred to survivors. GRIP was initiated by volunteers

and seeks to empower women, men, and children by providing comprehensive basic health care services.

GRIP's approach to providing care services was established in consultation with volunteers, survivors,

PLHIV, and community, to offer the services that best meet the needs of the community.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

ACTIVITY 1: Hospital Care Rooms

GRIP will support care rooms in hospitals to provide clinical and psychosocial support to survivors of sexual

assault including children and adults. The medical care rooms are maintained by GRIP and open twenty-

four (24) hours, 7 days a week. With support from the Department of Health, care rooms have a full time

forensic professional nurse during the day alternating with the doctor on-call in the evening. Survivors

undergo examination, are screened for STIs and OIs, receive treatment and cotrimoxazole as appropriate,

and receive post-exposure prophylaxis and other necessary medication. In addition, survivors receive

psychosocial support, counseling and testing, and are also referred to support groups to assist with

recovery.

ACTIVITY 2: Police Care Rooms

GRIP will open care rooms in police stations where victims can report their cases and receive

comprehensive care services including protection. GRIP has existing Victim-Friendly Facilities in some

police stations which also operate 24 hours, 7 days a week. At these facilities, J88 Forms (police dockets)

are completed to open cases against the perpetrator, and psychosocial support and practical assistance is

offered. Each care room has an Area Manager who oversees the daily operations to ensure that necessary

procedures are followed and services are offered to the survivor once the case is reported. These care

rooms are an initial entry point for psychological support and survivors are referred to hospital care rooms in

Activity 1.

ACTIVITY 3: Community-based Support for Survivors

The community-based support for survivors is integrated with the Care Rooms operations. Survivors are

allocated counselors who offer them service in the care room and conduct follow-up thereafter. These same

counselors will remain the support counselors to the survivor throughout the program. These counselors will

then visit survivors at home for the provision of psychological and social support. A holistic approach is

employed, an integrated approach to holistic social welfare intervention, where survivors of sexual assault

and domestic violence needs are addressed in collaboration with other stakeholders, for example the

Department of Education, Health and Social Services, Justice, Safety and Security, and Home Affairs. GRIP

acts as the eyes and ears of each community. By conducting these home visits, GRIP accesses each

family's and individual's unique care needs, and can refer and act upon accordingly. Confidentiality and

privacy is respected.

ACTIVITY 4: HIV and AIDS Support Groups for Survivors

The goal of the HIV and AIDS support group is to establish, build and facilitate area-specific sites for an

ongoing support system, catering to HIV-infected persons, which offers a forum for continuous information

and sharing of life experiences, for mutual benefit to those needing or requesting it. These groups are

facilitated by trained counselors and have more or less 15 persons to meet on a twice a month basis for a 6

month period. The venue for the meetings will be sourced through collaboration with traditional leaders or

community halls. These meetings will enhance the psychological, spiritual, and social aspects of palliative

care.

Through the support groups, a major component will include the following activities: acceptance, disclosure,

prevention with positives, opportunistic infections, adherence counseling, treatment literacy, nutrition, and

counseling.

Through the provision of clinical, psychological, social, spiritual, prevention and victim empowerment

interventions, these activities contribute to the PEPFAR goal of reaching 10 million with care.

New/Continuing Activity: Continuing Activity

Continuing Activity: 16273

Continued Associated Activity Information

Activity Activity ID USG Agency Prime Partner Mechanism Mechanism ID Mechanism Planned Funds

System ID System ID

16273 16273.08 U.S. Agency for GRIP Intervention 7311 7311.08 $300,000

International

Development

Emphasis Areas

Construction/Renovation

Gender

* Increasing gender equity in HIV/AIDS programs

* Increasing women's legal rights

* Reducing violence and coercion

Human Capacity Development

Estimated amount of funding that is planned for Human Capacity Development $158,260

Public Health Evaluation

Food and Nutrition: Policy, Tools, and Service Delivery

Food and Nutrition: Commodities

Economic Strengthening

Education

Water

Table 3.3.08:

ACTIVITY HAS BEEN MODIFIED IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

The activities and results remains the same for FY 2009. Modifications can be made at a later stage when

clear results will be obtained from our monitoring and evaluation systems.

The chief executive officer (CEO), accountant and assistant accountant will be directly involved in this

program due to the need for supervision, monitoring and accountability of finances.

ENHANCEMENTS:

The main aim of the counseling and testing (CT) activities is to increase access to HIV counseling and

testing by advancing innovative approaches and strategies for reaching the general population, as well as

high-risk target groups who are especially vulnerable to contracting HIV, and survivors of sexual assault,

rape and domestic abuse. All CT sites, be they at the Greater Nelspruit Rape Intervention Project (GRIP)

program office, in homes, or at locations within the community, will offer CT using rapid testing algorithms

that are in line with the National Department of Health framework and guidelines. This is a client-centered

approach whereby CT is based on self-initiated HIV testing and prevention counseling, offered in free-

standing sites (offices, homes and workplaces). Pre- and post-test counseling, followed by referrals, for

those testing both negative and positive, are integral components of the approach. GRIP staff are already

trained and accredited to provide CT services, but refresher training and technical support will be provided,

through the Academy for Educational Development (AED) Umbrella Grants Mechanism (UGM). Quality

assurance tools and the risk reduction protocol (mainly those from the Centers for Disease Control), along

with AED referral system protocols will be used to improve the quality of services and strengthen overall

service provision.

Home-based counseling and testing (for survivors) is an evidence-based approach that has yielded good

results in other African settings. This activity will add to the body of knowledge, for scale-up and advocacy

purposes, and routine (opt-out) testing offers will be a standard practice.

Two professional nurses will receive ongoing training, support and guidance from the Department of Health

and GRIP, in order to perform duties that are in line with CT legislation and national policies.

The CEO, accountant and assistant accountant will receive ongoing training, supervision and guidance from

the board of trustees and all finances and activities will be audited in order to ensure that financial and

fusiness fegislation requirement are met at all times. The AED-UGM is also very much involved in staff

capacity building and education and regular workshops are attended by various staff members.

The amount will also include human resource functions such as policies, formulation of job profiles,

performance evaluations, bonuses and salary scales.

GRIP service delivery is in line with the HIV & AIDS and STI Strategic Plan for South Africa, 2007-2011

Priority Area 2 Treatment, Care and Support; and 4 Human Rights and Access to Justice.

Within these priority areas, GRIP is working with victims of sexual assault, rape, domestic violence and

those infected or affected by HIV as a result of sexual assault. GRIP is helping the government in making

sure that everyone in South Africa can get all the necessary services from government, from non-

governmental organizations (NGOs) and from private practitioners. GRIP ensures that people know about

all medicines used in the management of HIV/AIDS, including antiretrovirals (ARVs). GRIP supports

survivors in taking these medications. GRIP ensures that clinics provide support to people living with AIDS

and help with community outreach so that people living with HIV/AIDS and their families are getting the

support and treatment that they need. GRIP ensures care, love and non-discrimination for our survivors

and those who are HIV-positive. GRIP assists the government in making sure that the health care system

is strong enough to support people who are living with HIV or are affected by sexual assault. It also

increases the amount of people working within the criminal justice system.

By ensuring that the rights of people who are exposed to sexual assault and living with HIV are legally

protected, and that these people are treated with dignity and respect, falls in line HIV & AIDS and STI

Strategic Plan for South Africa, 2007-2011 Priority Area 4: Human Rights and Access to Justice. GRIP is

ensuring that people who are sexually or physically assaulted get justice, counseling and treatment and

understands why people may have problems getting services. GRIP also ensures that the rights of women

and girls are understood and respected so that secondary trauma can be reduced when they need to enter

the criminal justice system. GRIP lobbies that all existing laws to ensure the safety of women and children

are carried out and focus on the needs of people in abusive relationships, and making sure they get the

help they need.

GRIP also addresses male norms and behaviors:

GRIP's school-based youth and teacher programs will encourage men to be responsible in their sexual

behavior and child rearing, and to respect women, including the reduction of sexual violence and coercion,

number of sexual partners and cross-generational and transactional sex. GRIP will also focus on

behavioral change programs for boys that promote the positive role men can play in order to increase their

HIV preventative behavior.

GRIP also works toward increasing gender equity in HIV/AIDS programs:

GRIP's teacher and peer-group programs will address the obstacles that women and girls face in accessing

health care, ranging from cost of treatment, transportation, and child care, to appropriate appointment

schedules, and guarantees of privacy and confidentiality. GRIP's programs do meet the unique needs of

women, including the empowerment of women in interpersonal situations, young people and children and

those who are victims of sex trade, rape, sexual abuse, assault and exploitation.

Activity Narrative: GRIP increases women's legal rights:

GRIP advocates for the inheritance rights of women, particularly women in rural communities. GRIP's

interventions review, revise and encourage enforcement of laws relating to sexual violence against minors,

including strategies to more effectively protect young victims and punish perpetrators. GRIP supports

institutional capacity building of government departments within the criminal justice system, and intervenes

with lawyers, prosecutors, law enforcement and service providers on the legal rights of women and children

and their access to justice. GRIP also works with governments and other civil society groups to eliminate

gender inequalities in civil and criminal code.

GRIP reduces violence and coercion:

Counseling, referrals and follow-up treatment and prevention programs about the risk of disclosing status,

including links to shelters for women, support groups in the community and referrals to professional or legal

services are provided to the survivors. GRIP ensures that health workers recognize signs of gender-based

violence and to provide appropriate counseling and referral services to social, legal and community-based

groups. GRIP trains unemployed women from rural areas to become trained counselors in order to increase

the confidentiality and comfort of women and girls seeking treatment for sexual assault. GRIP also

addresses societal and community norms to reduce stigma, protect women from violence, promote gender

quality, and build conflict resolution skills. All services for survivors of sexual assault/violence should link to

the provision of post-exposure prophylaxis.

-------------------------------

SUMMARY:

In March 2007, the Greater Nelspruit Rape Intervention Project (GRIP) established a walk-in HIV voluntary

counseling and testing site at its headquarters in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. A professional nurse was

appointed to offer free HIV counseling and testing (CT) and awareness to any community member who

visits the site. The nurse is also involved in creating awareness on HIV and AIDS throughout the business

community in Nelspruit. Individuals who test negative are given guidance and information on how to prevent

the transmission of HIV. Through this CT site, GRIP promotes CT through advertising and community

mobilization campaigns. The professional nurse follows up and links clients into referral systems to ensure

they receive appropriate and timely care and treatment services. GRIP will use FY 2008 funds to appoint a

second nurse who will offer CT to the community. This will involve counseling and testing of survivors and

vulnerable children in their homes, and will include providing guidance, advice and assistance, where

necessary. The community nurse will work with a team of counselors to provide in-depth individualized

counseling tailored to survivors' needs. The team will reach out to survivors in areas where there is

inadequate numbers of healthcare workers and poor transportation infrastructure. The emphasis areas are

gender and workplace programs.

BACKGROUND:

GRIP was initiated by volunteers and established in 2000. GRIP started by offering services to all rape and

sexually assaulted survivors. GRIP seeks to empower all women, men and children through the process of

preventative education, counseling and testing, post traumatic care, advocacy and lobbying. Due to the link

between rape and HIV/AIDS, GRIP is now also focusing on HIV prevention and Voluntary counseling and

testing.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

ACTIVITY 1: HIV Counseling and Testing at the Walk-in Facility

The GRIP non-medical walk -in site offers CT, information on HIV and AIDS, and HIV-related referral

services. The referral system focuses on active follow-up, tracking of clients, and linking HIV-infected clients

with prevention, care and treatment services. Clients who test negative for HIV are linked to other

prevention services. The walk-in facility operates from the GRIP Head Office. The professional nurse

conducts voluntary testing on any community member that wishes to know his/her status in a private and

confidential yet comfortable and friendly room. The rapid finger prick test is used and test results are

immediate. A follow-up test is done to confirm the original results. People who receive HIV testing in this site

will receive pre-test counseling to prepare for the implications of the test, and post-test counseling in order

to deal with the emotions regarding the result.

ACTIVITY 2: Community-based Counseling and Testing

The community nurse will be responsible for HIV counseling and testing to survivors of rape or sexually

assault, and who may be at risk for being infected with HIV. The community nurse's duties are distinct from

those of the Walk-in-Facility nurse's duties. The community nurse will travel to survivors' homes in rural

areas where there is limited infrastructure and no public transport. Testing and counseling will be conducted

in the familiarity and safety of the survivors' own homes. The rapid finger prick test will be used and if a

survivor tests positive, a follow-up blood test and CD4 count will be taken. Each survivor has individual

needs and each survivor who tests positive will be monitored while the professional nurse will ensure follow-

up tests and medication.

The community nurse will be accompanied by the survivor's counselor on home visits. The counselor will be

there to provide additional support and guidance if the test is positive. The community nurse will conduct

home visits to all survivors and offer HIV counseling and testing, whenever it is needed. GRIP will also

assist those infected with HIV to adopt positive lifestyles and offer entry into treatment programs, when

needed. Through this intervention, GRIP aims at empowering the community with information on HIV and

Activity Narrative: AIDS and the opportunity to know their status.

ACTIVITY 3: Corporate Testing and Awareness Raising

GRIP also assists in debunking myths and "instant cures" by providing correct and factual information on

appropriate lifestyle changes. This activity is supported by language-relevant booklets and facilitating

access to relevant treatment programs. Beyond the suffering HIV imposes on individuals and their families,

the epidemic is profoundly affecting the social and economic fabric of societies and is affecting the most

productive segment of the labor force. Therefore, GRIP would like to reach out to the corporate sector that

includes businesses and the farming community. GRIP will offer employees HIV testing, information,

preventative talks and referral to immediate counseling if tested positive. The methods to be used in this

activity will be very interactive and participatory, and attendance of participants should be seen as part of

work obligations. Some of the activities will include assessments of high-risk behaviors, information about

transmission, support to vulnerable young women, information on the effects of the virus and emotions

thereof and information on prevention and management of HIV infection.

New/Continuing Activity: Continuing Activity

Continuing Activity: 16012

Continued Associated Activity Information

Activity Activity ID USG Agency Prime Partner Mechanism Mechanism ID Mechanism Planned Funds

System ID System ID

16012 16012.08 U.S. Agency for GRIP Intervention 7311 7311.08 $100,000

International

Development

Emphasis Areas

Gender

* Increasing gender equity in HIV/AIDS programs

* Increasing women's legal rights

Workplace Programs

Human Capacity Development

Estimated amount of funding that is planned for Human Capacity Development $66,221

Public Health Evaluation

Food and Nutrition: Policy, Tools, and Service Delivery

Food and Nutrition: Commodities

Economic Strengthening

Education

Water

Table 3.3.14: