Epic Foundation - Gauteng: Johannesburg

GBV survivor support; Comfort Pack Project; Step-Up Project; Fairy Godmother Project; counselling and support groups; court preparation support; legal referrals; self-defence workshops; motivational talks; education and awareness; 16 Days of Activism campaigns; 7,500+ victims helped since inception; 1,290+ volunteers; supports crisis centres, shelters, hospitals, and police stations across Gauteng and nationally through Netcare. a direct focus on supporting survivors of gender-based violence, human trafficking, and sexual abuse — and on equipping and resourcing the hospitals, shelters, crisis centres, and police stations that receive them. EPIC stands for its own tagline: **Empowering People In Crisis**. Since 2013, EPIC has helped over 7,500 victims, mobilised over 1,290 volunteers, and supported more than 2,600 projects. Its three flagship projects are the **Comfort Pack Project** — practical hygiene and dignity packs distributed at the moment of reporting (hospitals, crisis centres, SAPS stations) for adults and children, and specially designed court preparation packs for child witnesses; the **Step-Up Project** — supporting survivors with ongoing needs after the initial crisis; and the **Fairy Godmother Project** — targeted material and emotional support for survivors in specific circumstances. Beyond the projects, EPIC provides counselling and support groups, referrals for legal advice and court preparation, self-defence workshops, motivational talks, and education and awareness campaigns. Its primary geographic focus is Gauteng, and it has national reach through all Netcare hospitals. EPIC also co-created the **Holler Safe Space** (hollersafespace.com) in partnership with Mall of the South — an online resource hub for GBV survivors and those wanting to support them. EPIC actively campaigns during the 16 Days of Activism and welcomes community volunteers, corporate partners, and material donations for Comfort Pack contents. For acute crisis: GBV Command Centre 0800 428 428 (toll-free, 24/7)

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About

Flagship Projects

Comfort Pack Project

The Comfort Pack Project is EPIC Foundation's most visible and widely distributed programme. It provides dignity packs to survivors at the moment of reporting — at hospitals, crisis centres, and police stations — and more substantial packs to women and children arriving at shelters and survivors of human trafficking being received into care.

For adults (men and women): A drawstring bag containing body lotion, bottled water, comb/brush, face cloth, soap, hairclips and bands, lip balm, a handwritten note of comfort, sanitary towels, shampoo and conditioner, a small notebook and pen, a sweet, tissues, toothbrush and toothpaste, and clean underwear (all sizes). The underwear is particularly important: clothing that may contain DNA must be preserved as evidence, meaning survivors cannot wear their own underwear after a forensic examination. The pack gives them something clean to put on.

For children: A child-specific drawstring bag containing bottled water or a cool drink, a colouring book with crayons, face cloth, soap, a hairbrush, lip balm, plasters, surgical gloves, individually wrapped sanitary towels, a small notebook, a soft toy, sweets and snacks, tissues and wet wipes, toothbrush and toothpaste, and clean underwear.

For shelter arrivals and trafficking survivors: Month-long supply packs — the same contents, scaled up to last a month — in handbags for women, backpacks for men, and children's backpacks.

Court preparation packs for children: Child witnesses waiting for cases to proceed face exhausting, frightening hours in court buildings. EPIC's court preparation packs contain activity toys (small Lego sets, puzzles), a colouring book, a notebook, a soft toy, snacks, water, and wet wipes — practical comfort for a child who may wait for hours before being called to testify.

Step-Up Project

The Step-Up Project addresses the ongoing needs of survivors after the initial crisis moment — the days, weeks, and months after reporting, when immediate danger may have passed but the journey to stability has barely begun. Details of the programme's current activities and target groups are available on the EPIC Foundation website.

Fairy Godmother Project

The Fairy Godmother Project provides targeted, individualised support to survivors in specific circumstances — meeting needs that fall outside the scope of the standard Comfort Pack and Step-Up frameworks.

Other Initiatives

Counselling and support groups: Ongoing therapeutic and peer support for survivors. Legal referrals and court preparation: Connecting survivors to legal advice and preparing them for the court process — a notoriously disempowering experience for many. Self-defence workshops: Practical personal safety skills for survivors and communities. Motivational talks: At schools, corporates, community gatherings — breaking stigma and encouraging survivors to report and seek help. Education and awareness campaigns: Particularly active during the 16 Days of Activism (25 November–10 December).

Holler Safe Space

In partnership with Mall of the South, EPIC Foundation developed the Holler Safe Space (hollersafespace.com) — a comprehensive online platform that helps GBV survivors find guidance on what to do, where to go, and how to get treatment. It also serves as a resource for people in a survivor's social circle who want to know how to help. The site covers a wide range of GBV services, resources, and information across South Africa.

Getting Involved

EPIC Foundation welcomes volunteers, corporate partnerships, and in-kind donations for Comfort Pack contents. Priority items: body lotion, toothbrushes, toothpaste, underwear (all sizes, no G-strings), soft toys, sanitary towels (individually sealed), and snacks for children's court packs. Contact info@epicfoundation.org.za or 082 940 6230 to get involved or request packs for your shelter/hospital/crisis centre.

EPIC Foundation: epicfoundation.org.za. Phone: 082 940 6230. Email: info@epicfoundation.org.za. Founded 2013 by Alta McMaster. Gauteng + national (Netcare). Comfort Pack Project, Step-Up Project, Fairy Godmother Project, counselling, support groups, legal referrals, court prep, self-defence, motivational talks. 7,500+ helped, 1,290+ volunteers. Holler Safe Space: hollersafespace.com. Facebook: theepicfoundation. GBV crisis: 0800 428 428 (24/7, toll-free).