Norse Projects and friends tackle night bowling to raise funds for rape survivors
MBOMBELA - This year, Norse Projects’ biggest fundraiser was aimed at healing one of our society’s most terrible scourges - the horrific and widespread problem of rape and gender-based violence.
On October 27, Norse hosted the Greater Nelspruit Rape Intervention Project Group (GRIP) at Matumi Estate Bowling Club. A great evening under the bowling green spotlights was had by all, but the fun and frivolity did not detract from the deadly serious purpose of the event.
“We are raising funds for GRIP in its crusade to help survivors of rape and gender-based violence,” said a Norse spokesperson, who wished to remain anonymous.
“We want to spread awareness about this horrific problem. People need to talk about it. We need to bring it out into the open,” he said.
GRIP's CEO, Tarryn Lokotsch, said, “Rape survivors are afraid of coming forward because they often think exposing the perpetrator will make the situation worse, especially since 50% of the time, the perpetrators are known. Sadly, there is a terrible stigma against survivors of such violence.”
GRIP is a community-based rape intervention organisation that provides crucial support to rape survivors through counselling and its crisis care facilities.
It empowers survivors - women, men and children - through the process of counselling, education, advocacy and awareness raising.
GRIP’s team of dedicated first responders and social workers provide a forum for healing after the trauma of sexual crime.
The top Mbombela construction company, Norse Projects, is renowned for building some of the city’s best and most beautiful commercial buildings and a number of its vitally important civil construction projects. They chose GRIP as the beneficiaries of their biggest fundraiser of the year.
A Norse representative said, “Apart from the funds we raised on Thursday night, we also gave 99 comforting teddy bears for GRIP’s counselling centres. And the next day, on Friday, a whole lot more came in. Awareness is spreading.
“We’d like to thank GRIP. Its work is brave and essential. We should all be giving something towards counteracting and stopping rape in our society,” he said.
GRIP's programme administrator, Lynn Cuthill, said, “We are so grateful to Norse Projects for arranging the event. We were blown away by the response and generosity of participants.”