Dear Friend
I trust all is well with you. Please find a brief summary on the progress of SADRA Conflict Transformation’s work as well as personal news from me and family.
My dream has come true, that of attending SPI (Summer Peacebuilding Institute) in Virginia, USA. It is every peacebuilders dream. I leave Cape Town on Friday, 5 May and am back on Sunday 8, July 2017. During this trip, I plan to visit Mennonite churches who supported my work from the beginning and take time to appreciate them. Please pray for me and pray for my family back here in Strand as well as SADRA staff: Noncedo, Dan and Kathryn.
In terms of programs, SADRA continued to work in multiple projects in Peacebuilding and Interventions during the March and April 2017 months. Here are some of those highlights:
- Umyezo wama Apile High School Intervention in Grabouw. In the last issue, I shared about the beginnings of this community conflict facilitation process which was started at the request of the Departments of Education (WCED) and Transport and Public Works (DTPW). Whilst the conflict is far from being resolved, an agreement was reached, after many meetings with community stakeholders. The agreement provided a way forward to start building the High school, which had been delayed by this protracted conflict for months. On 1 March 2017, the Contractor started building. Engagements continue and conflict dynamics are forever changing in this small Apple village. Continue to pray for this process and pray for the facilitators: Oscar Siwali and Yolanda Jacobs
- #FMF: Currently, SADRA and More than Peace continues to engage Universities, looking for lasting solutions to not only #FMF but a range of challenges that face our institutions of higher learning. The challenges are far from over and behind the scenes work and analysis is happening to create preventative measures. All being well, capacity building should start soon. Please pray for this work.
- The three Manenberg High Schools: Silverstream, Manenberg and Phoenix attended the 4day Peer Mediation training workshop on 31 March – 3 April 2017 at the La Bri in Franschoek. A total of 47 people attended, including 37 learners, leaders and facilitators. On the last day of the workshop, Ms. Marine Bernabéu of the French Consulate in Cape Town was in attendance. She later expressed her appreciation of SADRA’s work. The learners have already conducted two mediations in Manenberg, one at home and one at school. Please pray for these young mediators that they grow and be peacebuilders in Manenberg. These Peer mediators will be presented with certificates at the Alliance Francaise sometime in May. Let me know if interested to attend.
- We also had the privilege of visiting Embassies in Pretoria. We visited the German, French, Australian, Canadian, and British High Commission Embassies. The warm reception and recognition for SADRAs work from all these partners was encouraging. Please pray for these relationships.
- Finally. the Lwandle, Nomzamo and Asanda Village Community Structures Conflict management workshop under the banner of SANCO (SA National Civic Organisation) was also conducted. Our guest from the Cape Town French Embassy, Ms Bernabau attended the workshop with 30 Community Leaders representing a range of stakeholders, as well as women, youth, and community leaders. The workshop took place on 21 and 22 April 2017 at the Lwandle Community hall in Strand, This workshop was also attended by staff from the following NGOs: Desmond Tutu Centre, Mothers to Mothers and Yabonga. The follow up workshop is on mediation & conflict transformation planned for 25 to 27 August.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude for what you are doing for me and SADRA. Your generosity of heart and spirit has not gone unnoticed. Please pray for the upcoming projects, especially looking at our community peace building work and where South Africa finds itself.