Page 122 - SCAT Rural Voice II - 35 Stories for 35 Years

aCkNowLeDGeMeNts
The idea for this book was incubated a year ago around a fire with a group of “SCATtie” old girls. It is a sequel to Rural Voice, which was authored by Margie Orford. The book took shape in discussions with the SCAT staff and trustees, who made it a reality. Heather Robertson’s passion for story telling enthused a group of 29 LDA staff, SCAT staff and five students from the Law Faculty at the University of Cape Town (UCT) at a four-day workshop, where these beautiful stories were generated. The students, Damion Jacobs, Kudzai Mhepo, Clara Dybbroe Viltoft, Savannah Smit and Philile Ntuli were organised by Dr Kelley Moult and Diane Jefthas of the Centre for Law and Society at UCT. Along with SCAT staff they assisted the writers, translated stories and have become valuable contributors to the SCAT team.
SCAT trustees, who give of their time voluntarily, also contributed with edits. Sue Anderson proof-read every story and Nkosikhulule Xhawulengweni Nyembezi and Lorenzo Wakefield gave the book final copy edits. SCAT staff made sure that we had all the names of people in the pictures.
Zeke du Plessis, our photographer, has beautifully captured the visual story of SCAT. He travelled long distances to capture the photos, which are so rich and vibrant.
I would also like to value and honour the role and contribution of past SCAT staff. They have walked through the doors of SCAT and brought the energy and diversity which has shaped our work.
In addition to the founder and current trustees in this book, there have been several people who have made valuable contributions to SCAT as trustees of the organisation. These include Priscilla Sigila (most recent chairperson), Nomfundo Walaza (ex-chairperson), Greg Erasmus (ex-chairperson), Annemarie Hendrikz (Director and ex-officio trustee), Bishop Mazwi Tisani, Mpho Ndebele, Professors Leila Patel and Barney Pityana, Peter Smith and Sibongile Mkhabela.
The Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) was our first funder and remained with us for 25 years. Bjarne Lindstrom then Consul General for Norway, and Reverend Canon Dr Trond Bakkevig were key role- players in securing this funding and relationship. We are grateful that NCA took that leap of faith and allowed the founder trustees to birth an indigenous organisation that continues to support transformative work in rural and peri-urban communities. Cordaid, with support from the Dutch Government, was also a long-standing funder of SCATs work. I am pleased that the Dutch Embassy will be funding SCAT in 2019/20. Dan Church Aid and the Church of Sweden, also long-standing funders, exited after the dawn of democracy. Other past funders of SCAT include: The Finnish Embassy, the Canadian International Development Agency, the DG Murray Trust, a local Foundation, and the European Union. The South African Government, through the National Department of Health, the National Development Agency, the National Lotteries Commission, and the provincial departments of Social Development in the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape also supported SCAT’s work. I would also like to acknowledge our former corporate funders: the ABSA Foundation, Anglo American Chairman’s Fund, De Beers Chairman’s Fund, Engen, First Rand Foundation, HCI Foundation, Ponahalo De Beers Trust, and WesBank.
Special thanks to the Global Fund for Community Foundations who funded the book writing process. I would also like to thank the C.S. Mott Foundation, the Constitutionalism Fund, the Ford Foundation, Joan St Leger Lindbergh Charitable Trust, the Irish Embassy and the Raith Foundation, who provide us with core funding and have contributed to the writing workshop and the staff time that we put into this work. I would also like to acknowledge the Social Justice Initiative, the Ackerman Pick ‘n Pay Family Foundation, the Foundation for Human Rights, and the Open Society Foundation who support our programmatic work.
The success of 35 years of SCAT does not belong to one person or institution. It belongs to many – a few of whom I’ve mentioned here. However, SCAT would not be able to do what it does, without our LDA partners. Their contributions to their communities and SCAT are acknowledged, through this book.
Joanne Harding: SCAT Director