Tarryn Lokotsch

What does your company do?

The Greater Nelspruit Rape Intervention Project Group (GRIP), founded in 2000 by Ms. Barbara Kenyon, was born out of the urgent need for services for gender-based violence (GBV) survivors in Mpumalanga. With a mission to provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to GBV and HIV/AIDS, GRIP offers prevention, care, support, recovery, and promotes accountability. GRIP envisions a future free from GBV, where survivors are empowered to heal and reclaim their lives. My own introduction to GRIP came through tragedy—after I was violently attacked and raped while out on a training run in April 2021. That experience shattered my world, but it also introduced me to GRIP, whose founder reached out to offer immediate care and support for me and my family. This was more than just a gesture of kindness; it lit a fire in me to get involved, to help enhance the services survivors receive, and to fill critical gaps I saw in the system. I left a successful career in corporate finance to join GRIP, eventually stepping into the role of CEO with a passion to ensure that no survivor walks their healing journey alone. GRIP operates trauma care rooms at police stations, hospitals, and magistrates' courts where first responders and social workers provide immediate trauma containment, legal assistance, and dignity care packs. Two shelters — Ehlanzeni Ekhaya Shelter and Mkhondo Home of Hope Shelter — offer women and children up to six months of safe accommodation, vocational training, psychosocial care, and legal support. Through our unique community-based model — the GRIP Circle of Care — we provide long-term home visit support to survivors, helping them develop the coping skills necessary for recovery and reintegration. We also offer legal advocacy and partner with law enforcement and the judicial system to ensure justice and dignity for every survivor. In addition to direct services, GRIP focuses on capacity building by training police, healthcare workers, and community leaders to respond to GBV with sensitivity and care. Since its inception, GRIP has supported over 50,000 survivors, with 96% coming from under-served communities. Today, GRIP is not just an organization I lead — it is my purpose. It is a lifeline for thousands, powered by a team of over 70 committed staff, volunteers, and professionals who believe, as I do, that healing is possible and justice is non-negotiable.

What is your biggest success?

ChatGPT said: One of my greatest achievements has been transforming personal trauma into purpose-driven leadership. Taking the helm at GRIP, I’ve focused on reshaping our services to be more survivor-centered, closing systemic gaps, and strengthening sustainability in the face of funding uncertainty. I led efforts to stabilise core operations after major donor losses, secured new partnerships, and expanded the reach of our shelters and care rooms. More than numbers, my proudest moments are when survivors tell us they felt seen, safe, and empowered through our support. Helping to rebuild lives—while building a stronger, more responsive organisation—is the most meaningful work I’ve ever done.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

My biggest hurdle has been navigating the persistent challenge of funding essential, often invisible, aspects of our work—particularly salaries for frontline staff and operational costs that keep our shelters and care rooms running. Many donors prefer funding short-term projects or tangible items, leaving critical services under-resourced. Balancing the urgent needs of survivors with the reality of limited budgets has been emotionally and strategically demanding. At times, we’ve had to make impossible decisions just to keep our doors open. Yet, this hurdle has also fueled innovation: building new partnerships, advocating for structural funding, and strengthening GRIP’s resilience. It’s a daily challenge, but one I meet with unwavering commitment—because the cost of not showing up for survivors is far greater.