- Program Civil Society
- Program Area Special Initiatives
- Grant Amount $80,000
- Grant Period March 1, 2004–February 28, 2006
- Location Durban, South Africa
- Geographic Focus KwaZulu-Natal, Province of
About this grant
This grant will support efforts by the Diakonia Council of Churches to assist poor communities in rural parts of KwaZulu-Natal to promote peace, local development and reconciliation. The goal of the Community Resource Centers and Reconciliation Project is to provide an example of how communities torn apart by violence during the worst years of apartheid can learn to live and work together. Multiyear funding will enable the council to use a "healing of memories" approach – providing a safe place for people to share their stories of pain and violence with each other. Through storytelling, workshops and weekend retreats, participants will try to come to terms with what happened; appreciate what other communities went through; and develop a stronger commitment to making sure that such violations never occur again. The council has identified six areas where it will work with its interfaith counterparts: Amanzimtoti, Durban, outlying areas of Durban, Phoenix, Pinetown and Ulundi.The Diakonia Council of Churches is an interfaith church agency that works with churches and church organizations in KwaZulu-Natal to promote justice, development and peace.