South Africa
Since 1991, Facing History and Ourselves has fostered close
relationships with South African scholars and activists, including
justices Richard Goldstone and Albie Sachs; psychologist and former
member of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission Pumla
Gobodo-Madikizela; and Chris Ahrends, executive director of The Desmond
Tutu Peace Centre.
Facing History's work in South Africa started with a series of workshops in conjunction with the Cape Town Holocaust Centre in 1991. Two years later, Executive Director Margot Strom visited the country, meeting with Minister of Justice Dullah Omar as well as such members of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as Alex Boraine, now President of the International Center for Transitional Justice, and Charles Villa Vincincio, current Executive Director of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation. These meetings resulted in Facing History's 1997 conference on transitional justice, Collective Violence and Memory: Judgment, Reconciliation, Education and the organization's work with Bill Moyers on his documentary Facing the Truth about the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
In January, 2003, Facing History returned to the Cape Town Holocaust Centre to facilitate a seminar and workshops for teachers and administrators in the Western Cape. One participant said of the experience, "Every young person should be exposed to this material. The Holocaust should serve as a case study to open up debate about marginalization, social injustice, and the need to take a stand." Later that year, Facing History traveled to Johannesburg and Cape Town to meet with representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), teachers, and educational administrators.
As a result of those meetings, Fanie du Toit from the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, Themba Lonzi from the Institute for the Healing of Memories and Tali Nates, an independent consultant, have attended weeklong seminars in the US. In December 2003, Facing History facilitated workshops in Johannesburg for Gauteng-area teachers and NGO representatives. In addition, the Foundation for Tolerance Education organized a two-day workshop that included participants from the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation and the South African Human Rights Commission.
We are also proud to announce that Facing History has joined with Cape Town Holocaust Centre and the Western Cape Department of Education to implement Facing The Past-Education for Human Rights and Democracy. In December 2003, as part of that project, members of the Facing History staff with support form their Cape Town partners Dylan Wray, Marlene Silbert and Gail Weldon facilitated the partners' first joint seminar. Since then, teachers from twelve schools in the Western Cape have been implementing Facing The Past resources and methodologies into their history, art and life orientation courses. Facing History continues to work with the Holocaust Centre and the Western Cape Education Department to develop and disseminate materials that promote examination of both the Holocaust and the history of apartheid.
Facing History's work in South Africa started with a series of workshops in conjunction with the Cape Town Holocaust Centre in 1991. Two years later, Executive Director Margot Strom visited the country, meeting with Minister of Justice Dullah Omar as well as such members of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as Alex Boraine, now President of the International Center for Transitional Justice, and Charles Villa Vincincio, current Executive Director of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation. These meetings resulted in Facing History's 1997 conference on transitional justice, Collective Violence and Memory: Judgment, Reconciliation, Education and the organization's work with Bill Moyers on his documentary Facing the Truth about the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
In January, 2003, Facing History returned to the Cape Town Holocaust Centre to facilitate a seminar and workshops for teachers and administrators in the Western Cape. One participant said of the experience, "Every young person should be exposed to this material. The Holocaust should serve as a case study to open up debate about marginalization, social injustice, and the need to take a stand." Later that year, Facing History traveled to Johannesburg and Cape Town to meet with representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), teachers, and educational administrators.
As a result of those meetings, Fanie du Toit from the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, Themba Lonzi from the Institute for the Healing of Memories and Tali Nates, an independent consultant, have attended weeklong seminars in the US. In December 2003, Facing History facilitated workshops in Johannesburg for Gauteng-area teachers and NGO representatives. In addition, the Foundation for Tolerance Education organized a two-day workshop that included participants from the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation and the South African Human Rights Commission.
We are also proud to announce that Facing History has joined with Cape Town Holocaust Centre and the Western Cape Department of Education to implement Facing The Past-Education for Human Rights and Democracy. In December 2003, as part of that project, members of the Facing History staff with support form their Cape Town partners Dylan Wray, Marlene Silbert and Gail Weldon facilitated the partners' first joint seminar. Since then, teachers from twelve schools in the Western Cape have been implementing Facing The Past resources and methodologies into their history, art and life orientation courses. Facing History continues to work with the Holocaust Centre and the Western Cape Education Department to develop and disseminate materials that promote examination of both the Holocaust and the history of apartheid.
Location:
South Africa
South Africa
