Alumni step up to offer counselling to student GBV survivors, connecting them with much-needed psychological support

Zellah Fuphe, the cofounder and initial funder, established the Alumni-in-Action initiative after a student at the University of Cape Town was murdered in 2019. She and cofounder Sanda Nyoka knew the negative impact that trauma, and gender-based violence (GBV) in particular, had on academic success.

The initiative takes a victim-centred, survivor-focused approach to help lower the risk of persistent trauma for survivors of GBV.

Transformation Office GBV counsellor Ulleta Marais is the student point of contact at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha and, after an initial screening, will connect students to one of several psychologists who have signed up for the project.

“The programme is working. It is doing very well,” said Marais. “They (the student beneficiaries) really appreciate the sessions they have with the psychologists.”

Nelson Mandela University has a zero-tolerance stance on GBV, and its vice-chancellor, Professor Sibongile Muthwa, chaired the Ministerial Task Team on Sexual Harassment and GBV and Harm in South African universities.

Its report, published earlier this year, recommends that all complaints mechanisms be integrated with psychosocial and other support to complainants, such as with the Alumni-in-Action initiative.

It said the central coordination point – which at Nelson Mandela University is the Transformation Office – should establish systems of referral to campus health and wellness structures.

With a lack of funding hobbling attempts by universities to fully address GBV, the Alumni-in-Action initiative provides an additional layer of support. Fuphe hopes more donors will come forward.

“GBV does not only impact individuals, it also impacts families and communities, sometimes with adverse intergenerational consequences. This is why we hope to attract more donors and partners: so that the Alumni-in-Action initiative service can be available to more survivors … also at other institutions of higher learning.”

Marais says the ideal is to match students with a therapist who speaks the same language. Counselling takes place face to face and online, and is free for the students. DM

This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.