Reconciliation Through Visions and Values

About this grant

The Foundation for Citizenship and Governance Training works with communities to address issues of identity, conflict resolution and local development. Recently, the foundation piloted a training and capacity-building program in Malmesbury, Bellville and Kraaifontein in the Western Cape to build trust and cooperation among the diverse racial and ethnic groups, particularly regarding how they related to local government in planning community development.Multiyear funding will enable the foundation to continue working with these communities and expand the program to include Stellenbosch. Program objectives include helping the communities develop a sense of a common future; facilitating a reconciliation process by encouraging communities to talk about their hurt, anger, distrust and pain of the past; providing participants with knowledge and skills in conflict resolution, mediation and alternative dispute resolution methods; and assisting communities in designing and implementing projects at the grassroots level to promote community development and poverty alleviation.Recent accomplishments included fostering cross-cultural dialogue, sharing and reconciliation; building the self-confidence of the communities and belief in a better future; restoring the dignity of the black community; and imparting skills on mediation, consensus building and development planning.