The 2021 July Riots taught us something about how much we value peace. Two years later and the Alexandra community’s healing journey has seen many peace-positives. Reflections:
Alexandra, South Africa (24 July, 2023) — Cast your mind back to July 2021. Amid restrictions, trying to rebuild the pandemic’s economy and a general push and pull between hope and worries, the 2021 July Riots emerged.
A time of chaos and stress, it was also a time where people ramped up on their acts of kindness and helpers could be found in all unexpected corners. Two years after the fact and many communities are standing back on their feet. One of them is Alexandra in Gauteng, who saw some of the most impact from the 2021 July Riots.
When chaos came knocking in Alexandra, non-profit Khulisa Social Solutions (who won a prestigious international award for this work) stepped in to fold peace back into the community. Their peace mediation process focused on looters and victims. Families and foreign nationals.The LGBTQIA+ community and its allies. The Alex Peace-Making Programme was about more than just rebuilding and facilitating peace. It was also about laying the groundwork for a future brighter and more cooperative than the past.
Since its beginnings during a time when peace seemed overambitious, a lot of good has been done. Two years down and the Alexandra community has more peace-making and keeping skills in their arsenal!
Over 4000 community members have been engaged (from parents to educators) more than 25 local NGOs have been empowered with skills, and in total, 200 000 beneficiaries have been reached.
One way the Alex Peace-Making Programme has focused on rising up has been through understanding the root causes of violence. After all, how can you fix something when you don’t know why it came to be?
“Through partnering with NGOs, local police, Department of Correctional Service, Department of Social Development and the Department of Education, we hosted a number of dialogue circles which gave community members an opportunity to voice their perspectives. This gave us valuable insight into the factors of the violence and a chance for community members to implement solutions to rebuild social cohesion,” explains Khulisa’s Lesley van Selm.
“We often found that community members observed their local shops being emptied and feared not being able to buy anything the next day. Many saw looting as the only opportunity to put food on the table for an unforeseeable amount of time,” adds van Selm.
Given the positive reception of the Alexandra Peace-Making programme, Khulisa is looking to replicate the positivity in other communities in need and is urging companies and potential donors to get involved in this important work.
This is the kind of peace in action we’re always proud to see!
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