Registered in 1987 by the Cape Town Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) as the Quaker Peace Centre, we originally challenged the injustices of Apartheid. Post-1994, our focus shifted toward addressing violence, particularly among youth and children, with notable success in school communities. In 2018, we became The Peace Centre, reflecting our inclusive, secular mission, in line with South Africa’s democratic principles. We are still commit to the quaker values of Peace, Simplicity, Truth, Equality, and Stewardship.
Click in rhe button below to read ‘ Activism in the 1970s that birthed the Peace Centre’ that provides a well-documented history of the struggle against apartheid during this period as narrated by Rommel Roberts and written by Pepe Hendricks.
OUR WORK TODAY
At the heart of our mission is community empowerment, addressing the root causes of violence and its ripple effects on both individuals and communities. We focus on under-resourced townships and informal settlements where violence and poverty are most severe. Through targeted interventions, we support these communities in breaking the cycle of violence and building a sustainable future. Our skills development and support programs prioritize personal transformation as the key to lasting social change. We strongly believe in the sentiment that ‘change begins with me’
The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, which restricted nearly all in-person gatherings, underscored the critical need for remote learning. In response, The Peace Centre has actively explored the use of IT as a key tool for its training programs, bringing on board a part-time IT specialist to support these efforts. However, many of our target communities face significant financial barriers, with the high cost of mobile data in South Africa posing a substantial challenge to accessing online learning.
The Peace Centre is not just an organization; it’s a hub for collaborative action against violence and corruption. We build strong partnerships with like-minded organizations, working together to create a more peaceful, just society. Our work also extends into affluent areas, bridging the gap to share knowledge and experiences across our diverse communities.
B-BBEE AND FUNDING
We are proud to be a Level 1 B-BBEE entity—the highest ranking for an NPO of our size. This reflects our alignment with South Africa’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) framework, which promotes inclusive economic participation and transformation of Black (African, Coloured, and Indian) South Africans.
This rating boosts our eligibility for government contracts and is a testament to our commitment to transformation.
Our work is funded by donations and grants, as our beneficiaries cannot afford to pay for the vital services we provide. We are deeply grateful for the financial contributions and the unwavering support of volunteers. Global Quaker communities remain a key source of support.
Your support is crucial in enabling us to continue our impactful work.
OUR IMPACT
At The Peace Centre, collaboration is key to igniting change and building resilient communities. In partnership with the Community, Arts, and Culture Development Department of the City of Cape Town, we’ve trained Peace Ambassadors from diverse areas like Mitchell’s Plain, Retreat, Athlone, Delft, and Kraaifontein. These ambassadors lead peace-building initiatives in schools and communities affected by violence. Other accomplishments:
- In collaboration with Hilltop, we provided IT training and support, equipping individuals with essential digital skills and opening up new personal and professional opportunities.
- Recognizing the importance of ethical leadership, we partnered with Paul Hoffman, director of Accountability Now, to advocate for anti-corruption efforts. Additionally, through the Concerned Citizens Alliance, we’re tackling youth unemployment and the skills crisis, creating opportunities for the next generation.
- Our work with several organizations on the Youth Speak Summit at the University of the Western Cape brought together young voices to address key issues like education, inequality, and health. These insights shape meaningful projects that respond to the needs of our communities.
- We collaborated with Surplus Books on creative writing workshops and book launches, empowering local writers to share their stories and cultivate their craft.
Through these initiatives, The Peace Centre continues to foster hope, unity, and opportunities for all, working towards a future where peace and prosperity are within reach for every community.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
We prioritize monitoring, evaluation, and learning to measure the effectiveness of our programs and ensure our goals are met. A critical review of our work is underway to ensure ACCOUNTABILITY, and we look forward to sharing our insights soon. We are also improving our research capacity.
IN MEMORY OF ROMMEL ROBERTS (2 December 1949 to 17 May 2024)
The Centre has experienced the sad loss of our director and peace giant, Rommel Roberts in May 2024 who has been a backbone of the Centre for several years. We will forever hold his memory in the light. Click here to read the tribute to him by the Daily Maverick.
His passing is a great loss for the Peace Centre. We miss him dearly!