inequalities arising from Apartheid.
A central feature was a shared
wilderness experience, facilitated by
the Wilderness Leadership School.
For a few days two former
enemies were walking together in
a place of unspoilt beauty, crossing
crocodile infested rivers, sleeping
on the ground, protecting each
other while on guard duty against
dangerous animals. The friendship
that grew out of this experience
echoed similar results achieved with
employing Wilderness to bring South
African ex-combatants together.’
It was fitting that the Beyond
Forgiving Tour ended at 174 Trust
(a new Healing and Reconciliation
Centre) in the centre of Belfast. This
part of the tour was in association
with INCORE as part of ‘The Accounts
of the Conflict’ project based at the
University of Ulster, and its Director
Professor Brandon Hamber.
Hamber who also worked as
a key facilitator and lead on SPN,
commented: ‘Even with the best
of intentions, such as to promote
reconciliation after deeply divisive
events by “turning the page”, erasing
the past can prevent new generations
from learning critical lessons while
forever compromising opportunities
to build a peaceful future.’ With a
sentiment for responsibility towards
change Mphahlele also comments:
‘History is just in process... we cannot
wait for politicians or leaders to make
the decisions to pave the way. It is the
chance for each and every one of us
to take part in the on-going processes
of change.’
Wilderness: a symbol of
humanity
Out of discussions and storytelling
around campfires in the wilderness
grew the idea of the Wilderness
Foundation – to acknowledge and
honour the web of relationships,
interconnectedness between wildlife,
wild places, human beings and urban
environment.
The symbol of the Wilderness
Leadership School is the Erythina
Tree (Msinsi in Zulu) – a natural trinity
of life. The ethos of the Wilderness
Foundation is: ‘The Msinsi is a tree
found in the wild and also in the
settlements. It is our job to take
people from the settlements to the
wild and then bring them back again.
The leaf has three points and each
point contains a message – Man to
God, Man to Man and Man to Earth.’
As our two South African
protagonists continue their journey
and carry the message of forgiveness
across world divides they share
much with the Wilderness for the
‘restoration of humanity’ and social
change.
Jo Roberts with Ginn and Letlapa at South Africa House
on the UK Beyond Forgiving Tour.
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