- Program Civil Society
- Program Area Special Initiatives
- Grant Amount $150,000
- Grant Period April 1, 2003–March 31, 2005
- Location Cape Town, South Africa
- Geographic Focus Western Cape, Province of the
About this grant
At one time, District Six was a mixed community on the outskirts of the city of Cape Town, made up of many religious groups, schools, colleges, businesses, artists and community centers. In the 1960s, all people of color were forcibly removed and it was declared a whites-only area under the Group Areas Act of 1950. After the democratic changes in 1994, those who had been removed were allowed to make claims to have their land returned under the Restitution of Land Rights Act. As a tribute to memory, healing and dignity, a museum was created.Multiyear funding will support programs and activities that include operating the museum; helping returning families interact with the community; assisting families to trace their histories and ancestries; and serving as a resource for other communities.The District Six Museum Foundation was established to keep alive the memories of District Six and displaced people everywhere. It serves as a vehicle for advocating social justice, as a space for reflection and contemplation, and as an institution for challenging injustice.