 |
DIRECTOR'S
report
It gives me great pleasure to present this annual report on behalf of the staff and Board. We are proud of our work and have attempted to give some impression of its impact in the success stories that are included. The annual report reflects the contributions of many people whose support I value - the staff and board, volunteers, interns and programme associates, contract workers and consultants, funders and community leaders, professional colleagues in NGOs, government and the civil service, community members and the members of the Cape Western Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
The year 2000 provides us with an opportunity to make new beginnings. 1999 saw the start of a major ongoing strategic planning exercise in which we confirmed the value of our programmes in bringing hope to our society. We revised our mission statement and developed a clearer vision for our work that encompasses the aspirations of each programme as well as the Centre as a whole.
Martin Luther King junior wrote: "I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality…. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality." Allowing for the fact that the use of gender-inclusive language was not used at the time, I believe that commitment to this vision, with its simple methods of unarmed truth and unconditional love, can guide us towards the sort of future all the people of Africa aspire to. We ask for your prayers to help us keep focused on our vision.
The year saw the successful second democratic elections and the handing over to the government of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Of concern is the lack of any meaningful provision by the government for reparations to the victims as recommended by the Reparations Committee of the Commission.The Hague Appeal for Peace and the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Cape Town took place during the year. The United Nations declared the year 2000 an International Year for a Culture of Peace and the decade 2001–2010 the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the children of the World. This represents important institutional support and commitment to the goals and values we hold. Wars in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other parts of Africa remind us that we need to be an effective part of a broader peace movement to eradicate violent conflict in our part of the world.
There has been a greater clarity of focus in all our programmes. We are developing models which can be institutionalised and replicated. We are moving towards training trainers to a greater extent. We are also entering into strategic partnerships as we seek to cooperate with others in civil society and lobby government to increase our impact. We appreciate the increased contribution of volunteers and contract workers in assisting the staff.
Finally I would like to thank the staff for their work and commitment to the values of the Centre. We are well placed to make a meaningful contribution to peace in the new century.
Jeremy Routledge, March 2000
|
|
