This Women’s Month, gamers across South Africa are once again rallying under the banner of the #GamersAgainstGBV initiative, led by Mettlestate, the premier authority in esports and gaming in South Africa.
This campaign aims to empower gamers to take a stand against harassment and gender-based violence (GBV) within the gaming community while raising critical funds for the TEARS Foundation (TEARS), dedicated to supporting GBV survivors.
“Gaming is often stereotyped as male, but the number of South African girls and women in the video gaming community is rapidly growing. There is a pressing need for increased awareness and robust responses to sexual violence and harassment, both online and offline,” says Mara Glennie, Founder and CEO of TEARS.
Since its inception during the COVID-19 lockdown, when incidents of GBV escalated, the #GamersAgainstGBV initiative has been a beacon of hope. Leveraging the passion and reach of the local gaming community, the campaign has consistently made a significant impact. This year marks its fourth iteration and the second consecutive year of the partnership between Mettlestate and TEARS, promising increased engagement and support.
From August 1st to 9th, the initiative will feature daily livestreams hosted by over 30 streamers nationwide. These streamers will mobilise their communities to support the #GamersAgainstGBV cause through donations on their streams and by sharing relevant content to raise awareness. Each day will showcase a diverse lineup of gamers, culminating in a marathon stream on Women’s Day, August 9th, to amplify awareness.
“We’re excited to continue our collaboration with TEARS and the gaming community for another impactful campaign,” says Barry Louzada, Managing Director at Mettlestate. “Addressing harassment in gaming is crucial as it affects players’ online and offline lives. By uniting under #GamersAgainstGBV, we aim to raise funds for TEARS and foster a supportive environment where gamers can make a real difference.”
Online gaming is rapidly gaining popularity in South Africa, with an increasing number of people engaging in virtual worlds. According to Newzoo, a global leader in video games and gamer data, South Africa’s video game market saw approximately $266 million in spending in 2023, with continued growth projected to reach $333 million by 2026.
All donations received during the campaign will be processed through BackaBuddy, directly supporting TEARS in its mission to provide crucial services to all survivors of abuse.
“The partnership with Mettlestate highlights the community’s power to drive positive change, and the #GamersAgainstGBV initiative underscores the gaming community’s commitment to combating harassment in all its forms,” concludes Glennie.
For more information on how to get involved or to support the #GamersAgainstGBV campaign, visit www.mettlestate.com/gamers-against-gbv
ABOUT METTLESTATE
Mettlestate is a premium esports and gaming authority in South Africa aiming to be the leader in tournament organisation and gaming overall by combining outstanding tournaments and production, excellent talent, and lively events to cultivate more interest in the competitive gaming industry and complement the casual video gaming scene.
ABOUT TEARS FOUNDATION
Established in 2012, TEARS Foundation is an organisation providing access to crisis intervention, advocacy, counselling, and prevention education services to those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and child sexual abuse. Confidential services are provided to victims at no charge and are available to all.
In the last 8 years, TEARS Foundation received over ¾ a million calls from victims and survivors of Gender Based Violence, Sexual Assault and Abuse, all using all our platforms. We also reached an average of 341,666 users per month on Meta Suite in 2023.
