Amy Biehl Foundation Trust
Encyclopedia
The Amy Biehl Foundation Trust is a not-for-profit organization based in Cape Town
, set up to commemorate Amy Biehl
, an American anti-apartheid activist who was killed during racial violence in South Africa
in 1993.
The foundation works to fulfill three rights in the South African Constitution: the right to education, the right to equal employment, and the right to health. The foundation's mission statement is "to weave a barrier against violence" and "to prevent youth violence through a holistic approach to community development in socio-economically disadvantaged communities in and around Cape Town." It aims to do so by empowering the youths of the townships around Cape Town, mainly through after-school programs with activities like music, dance, drama, sports, crafts and HIV/AIDS peer education. These programs are running at several township-schools every afternoon, and in addition the foundation runs weekly activities outside the townships for some of the children, and they also have Saturday and Holiday programs. The Foundation is heavily dependent on donations for funding, but they are also trying to run some sustainability projects in order to get more reliable funding sources.
Linda Biehl, Amy's mother and a founder of the trust, speaks on the promise of restorative justice
, and continues the work of the foundation. She was awarded the Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo
(bronze class) in 2008 by South African President Thabo Mbeki
.
Two of the four men convicted for Biehl's murder, Easy Nofemela and Ntobeko Peni, have since reconciled with her parents, and are now working for the Foundation in South Africa.
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, set up to commemorate Amy Biehl
Amy Biehl
Amy Elizabeth Biehl was a white American graduate of Stanford University and an Anti-Apartheid activist in South Africa...
, an American anti-apartheid activist who was killed during racial violence in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1993.
The foundation works to fulfill three rights in the South African Constitution: the right to education, the right to equal employment, and the right to health. The foundation's mission statement is "to weave a barrier against violence" and "to prevent youth violence through a holistic approach to community development in socio-economically disadvantaged communities in and around Cape Town." It aims to do so by empowering the youths of the townships around Cape Town, mainly through after-school programs with activities like music, dance, drama, sports, crafts and HIV/AIDS peer education. These programs are running at several township-schools every afternoon, and in addition the foundation runs weekly activities outside the townships for some of the children, and they also have Saturday and Holiday programs. The Foundation is heavily dependent on donations for funding, but they are also trying to run some sustainability projects in order to get more reliable funding sources.
Linda Biehl, Amy's mother and a founder of the trust, speaks on the promise of restorative justice
Restorative justice
Restorative justice is an approach to justice that focuses on the needs of victims, offenders, as well as the involved community, instead of satisfying abstract legal principles or punishing the offender...
, and continues the work of the foundation. She was awarded the Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo
Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo
The Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo is a South African honour. It was instituted on 6 December 2002, and is granted by the president of South Africa, to foreign citizens who have promoted South African interests and aspirations through co-operation. solidarity, and support...
(bronze class) in 2008 by South African President Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
.
Two of the four men convicted for Biehl's murder, Easy Nofemela and Ntobeko Peni, have since reconciled with her parents, and are now working for the Foundation in South Africa.