The 16th of December has been marked as the Day of Reconciliation in South Africa since 1995. The day signifies the day the first democratically elected government was established, to foster unity among South Africans who were historically divided by apartheid.
Amy Biehl’s parents started a foundation after an American student was murdered during political mob violence in Gugulethu in 1993. According to Chaplin, the Biehls reached out to the four young men who were convicted for Amy Biehl’s murder and were granted amnesty after spending five years in prison.
Kevin Chaplin is the Managing Director of the Amy Foundation formerly known as the Amy Biehl Foundation. The Amy Foundation runs programmes in the Western Cape to help empower young people from challenged and vulnerable communities. The programmes are designed for school leavers and unemployed youth hailing from challenged backgrounds. The main subjects offered on the Youth Skills Development programme focus on Hospitality; Beauty & Wellness; Sewing, Craft & Design; Soft Skills & Work-Readiness and Business Skills & Entrepreneurship.
Amy Biehl’s parents sat at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) all those years ago to try and understand what caused these four boys to do what they did and then embrace them and accept their humble request for forgiveness and reconcile.
“Forgiveness is one thing, but the next step of reconciliation is such an important one and that’s what the parents showed us, Amy’s parents proved that reconciliation is possible,” said Chaplin. He added that they listened and tried to understand what happened with these young boys. “Apartheid robbed them of their youth. They became wonderful men, good fathers and good husbands whereby two of the men work with the organization” stated Chaplin.
To find out more about the Amy Foundation visit the website or email kevin@amyfoundation.co.za.
