We are appalled by the killing of George Floyd and extend our full support to the Black Lives Matter movement in the US and here in the UK. As a social justice charity, we recognise and value our role in the campaign to end violence and systemic racism against black people. As should be expected, Khulisa’s response today comes with a genuine intention to do more. Our next steps will be dictated by the feedback we receive from the team and from our young people about what more we can and should be doing
As a charity with South African roots, our programmes were originally designed and developed in post-apartheid communities. Since 1997, Khulisa South Africa has worked to resolve conflict and reduce violence in communities where racism had been part of the fabric of society. In the UK, our programmes are designed to create a safe environment for young people to be heard and to explore things that hurt, anger or frustrate them. In every one of our programmes, racism and the staggering level of social injustice caused by racism, is a dominating topic.
"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." Maya Angelou
As a charity, Khulisa guides young people on a journey of self-discovery, to become more aware of how their life experiences have shaped their values and beliefs, and vice versa.
As an organisation led by restorative approaches, we also know we have a responsibility to practice what we preach. In seeking a more equal, more compassionate and safer world for our beneficiaries to live in, we must mirror this same regard for our staff and employees. This is why over the course of the coming weeks and months we will be reflecting on how we can do more. We will be asking ourselves.
- What more can we do to tackle the individual, institutional and systemic forms of racism which are inflicted on our staff and our beneficiaries?
- What more can we do to stop racism and racial prejudice from dictating the life outcomes of our staff and our beneficiaries?
As an organisation, we are therefore embarking on our own journey of self-reflection. We welcome others to join us in this journey, to witness and to hold us accountable as we seek to know better and to do more.
If you’re interested in learning more about Khulisa South Africa, please visit their website: https://www.khulisa.org.za/