Representatives of South Africa were introduced to the peacekeeping initiatives of Wise Cause
On February 21, Ivor Jenkins, Mmabatho Ramagoshi, and Jacob van Heideren, who represent various NGOs that promote peacebuilding processes worldwide, based on South Africa’s experience, visited the Patriarchal Center in Kyiv. The purpose of their visit was to establish partnerships and friendships for cooperation in peacebuilding and to convey the truth about the war against Ukraine, the press service of the Patriarchal Foundation “Wise Cause” reports.
Ivor Jenkins is the Director of the In Transformation Initiative (ITI), a non-governmental organization established to help and support peacebuilding processes in countries in various stages of transition, based on the experience of South Africa.
Mmabatho Ramagoshi — head of the South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID) Foundation (formerly Special Advisor to the Government on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities).
Jacob van Heideren is a South African lawyer with 25 years of experience, who, in 2018, co-founded The Public Interest Practice, a human rights firm that supports African civil society organizations working in democracy building, access to justice, rule of law, and human rights.
With the blessing of the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the delegation was met by Fr. Lubomyr Yavorsky, the patriarchal economist of the UGCC. He spoke about the Church’s efforts to help the Ukrainian people, particularly in working towards a shared victory. He described the Patriarchal Foundation “Wise Cause” as one of the effective tools of the UGCC. The priest then showcased several ongoing charitable projects to the guests, highlighting their implementation with the support of Ukrainians and caring individuals from around the world. The patriarchal economist of the UGCC specifically mentioned the educational programs “Healing Communities” and “Action in Hope,” which enable people not only to acquire new knowledge but also to be filled with hope and inspiration to renew their country after the destruction caused by the Russian invaders. Representatives of South Africa were impressed by the resilience and courage of the Ukrainian people.
In a Facebook post, Fr. Lubomyr Yavorsky summarized the meeting by saying, “One of the tasks of the Church about society is to testify to the truth. This mission is critical now during this cruel and senseless Russian war against Ukraine. Indeed, the war always tries to hide, twist, and distort the truth. Our new friends and partners from South Africa share this conviction […]. Through these meetings, acquaintances, and partnerships, we communicate the truth about the Ukrainian people’s pain and suffering, as well as the victories and sacrifices, to the global community. May truth triumph over lies and light prevail over darkness!
The joint meeting ended with assurances of mutual support and hopes for further contacts.
The UGCC Department for Information
