Representatives of the South African Republic got acquainted with the peacekeeping and charitable initiatives of the Patriarchal Foundation Mudra Sprava

Ivor Jenkins is the Director of the In Transformation Initiative (ITI), a non-governmental organisation established to assist and support peacebuilding processes in countries in various stages of transition, drawing on the experience of South Africa.

Ms Ramagoshi is the Head of the South African Foundation “Women in Dialogue (SAWID), having previously served as a Special Advisor to the Government on Women, Youth and People with Disabilities. SAWID is engaged in conflict resolution and mediation around the world, from Latin America to Africa and the Middle East.

Jacob van Heideren is a South African lawyer with twenty-five years of experience who in 2018 co-founded The Public Interest Practice, a human rights firm that supports African civil society organisations working in the areas of democracy building, access to justice, rule of law and human rights.

With the blessing of the Father and Head of the UGCC His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the delegation was accompanied by Father Lyubomyr Yavorskyy, Patriarchal Econome of the UGCC. He shared his thoughts on the Church’s service for the good of the Ukrainian people, to bring about a common victory. According to him, one of the effective tools of the UGCC is the Patriarchal Foundation Mudra Sprava. He presented to the guests various charitable projects that are being implemented today thanks to the support of Ukrainians and caring people from around the world. He also mentioned the Healing Communities and Action in Hope educational and awareness programs, which allow people not only to gain new knowledge but also to be filled with hope and inspiration to rebuild their country after the destruction caused by the Russian invaders. The South African representatives were impressed by the resilience and courage of the Ukrainian people.

In his Facebook post, Father Lyubomyr Yavorskyy concluded the meeting as follows: “One of the tasks of the Church in relation to society is to testify and communicate the truth. This mission is especially important now, during this cruel and senseless Russian war against Ukraine. After all, war always tries to hide and distort the truth. Our new friends and partners from South Africa are convinced of this […]. Through such meetings, such acquaintances and partnerships, we convey to the world community the truth about the pain and suffering, as well as the victory and sacrifice of the Ukrainian people. For the sake of the victory of truth over lies, and light over darkness!”