Article: Monica Hilton-Barber from FAIRLADY

It makes such a pretty, carefree picture. But the truth is different ? harsh, brutal. Barbara, gentle bearer of fruit and sweets and founder of the Greater Nelspruit Rape Intervention Project (GRIP), is there to give them an Aids test.

As Barbara settles in the dusty yard and opens her medical bag, Phumi (4)* and Julie (3)* fight to be the first to snuggle into her lap for mothering cuddles and kisses. Though the girls understand their fingers must be pricked to fill a tube with blood to protect them from a 'sickness', Barbara still struggles not to cry when she has to do the deed.

But more stressful was coming face to face with the rapist, their uncle with whom they live. He quickly skulked off to a neighbour's house and stayed there until Barbara had left. Although the girl's aunt initially confessed to the police that her brother had been raping the girls for the past year, she has now withdrawn the allegations. So the girls continue to share his bed. And so Phumi and Julie remain among the increasing number of children under the age of five who're being raped and infected with the HIV virus.

Three months ago in the hospital down the road, a three-month-old baby raped by her father battled for her life after suffering extensive internal injuries. Doctors don't expect the infant to ever fully recover. Ten-year-old Margaret had to be stitched from rectum to pubic bone after a 21-year-old boy broke into her home and raped her one afternoon.

Two weeks before this interview, Gugu (11) died of Aids after being repeatedly raped by her stepfather over a period of a few years.

Of the children Barbara has dealt with, 80 percent have been under the age of 18. But only one percent of the perpetrators have been convicted.

'When I think of the small area I operate in and the many cases I deal with, I realise just how horrendous the situation countrywide must be, and it's terrifying,' she says, adding that the more she knows the more she realises what must be done.

Just over two years ago Barbara was a housewife committed to running her home, looking after her husband and raising her two small children. That was her life.

One day she heard about a campaign urging people to take a stand against rape and asked herself: 'If my daughter or I were ever raped, who would help us?' Dismayed at the answer she came up with and increasingly aware of how little was being done to aid victims of sexual abuse, particularly children in rural areas, she made the decision to do something about it.

After meeting with a number of rape survivors, hospital staff, doctors, the police and concerned Nelspruit residents and counsellors, she set up The Greater Nelspruit Rape Intervention Project (GRIP). Her home doubled up as her office and she started establishing rape crisis centres near police stations and care rooms in hospitals to provide immediate comfort and support to rape survivors who arrive traumatised and injured at emergency rooms.

The bubbly, blue-eyed blonde threw herself into the project without fully realising the commitment and sacrifices she'd need to make, and the magnitude of the problem. But already her achievements are staggering.

It's not been easy, however ? her work has angered some in the Mpumalanga Department of Health. After meeting nine-year-old Phindi*, who was dying of Aids as a result of repeated rape by her father, Barbara studied the available statistics and became aware of the alarmingly high incidence of HIV/Aids transmission in rape cases. Since current government policy in South Africa is not to provide free anti-retroviral drugs to rape survivors, Barbara raises funds so she can offer HIV testing and anti-retroviral drugs to rape survivors who don't have medical aid. If taken within 72 hours, these drugs can protect the survivor from contracting HIV.

This has led to conflict with Health MEC Sibongile Manana, who believes it's the duty of government, not individuals or non-governmental organisations, to supply healthcare. Manana has said: 'It causes problems for the department to try to explain to ordinary people the reason why it's not supplied to them.'

GRIP is presently involved in a lengthy court battle with the Mpumalanga Health Department. Sighing with frustration and momentarily looking down in the dumps, Barbara says she's often irritated by the delays caused by the Health MEC. But she's inspired by the knowledge that her work is helping girls like Phindi.

'For each child I help, I've made a difference. I don't want to die and have nothing to show for my life. I'm saving children's lives here ? and it's an honour to do so.'

Names have been changed to protect the identities of the survivors.

Thanks to Barbara Kenyon's initiative: