“Since partnering with WPDI’s peacebuilding program, our school has seen less violence and better academic performance.”
November 4, 2025 – In South Africa, WPDI creates spaces where voices are heard, stories are shared, and healing begins. Through a growing series of community dialogues, supported by BNP Paribas and RCS Group, WPDI is working to address the roots of violence and inequality by empowering young people, educators, and local leaders to engage in open, solution-driven conversations.
From the classrooms of Robinvale High School in Atlantis, a coastal township on the outskirts of Cape Town, to the community halls of Bonteheuwel, one of the city’s oldest working-class neighborhoods shaped by the legacy of apartheid-era displacement, these dialogues embody WPDI’s belief that peace is a shared responsibility.
Conversations That Spark Change
Across South Africa, many schools and communities continue to face the lingering effects of social fragmentation, unemployment, and intergenerational trauma. In such contexts, dialogue becomes a powerful tool for transformation: bridging divides, rebuilding trust, and reminding participants that collective healing starts with listening.
At Robinvale High School, WPDI, in collaboration with the City of Cape Town’s Department of Social Development and Early Childhood Development, brought together 60 students and educators to explore the challenges learners face in and outside the classroom. The key issues raised were violence, loss of concentration, and poor academic performance. Through guided group discussions led by Youth Peacemakers, participants co-created strategies to foster tolerance, promote awareness of school violence, and engage parents more meaningfully in supporting their children’s emotional well-being.
“Violence in some schools has decreased due to the involvement of NGOs like WPDI. Since partnering with their peacebuilding program, our school has seen less violence and better academic performance.”
— Jennifer Michaels, Life Skills Coordinator, Robinvale High School
Meanwhile, in Bonteheuwel, WPDI’s psychosocial well-being team facilitated a profoundly moving dialogue with the Bonteheuwel Walking Ladies (#BWL), a resilient collective of women who have long been pillars of strength in their community. In this safe space, participants shared their lived experiences with gangsterism, gender-based violence, and substance abuse. Yet, amid the pain, there was solidarity. Together, the women identified practical coping strategies and envisioned pathways toward healing and resilience.
“This was the first time in a long while that I felt truly heard. Speaking about the pain our families carry was emotional, but also healing. I left the session feeling lighter, stronger, and reminded that we are not alone.”
— Participant, Bonteheuwel Walking Ladies
The Power of Dialogue in Peacebuilding
While distinct in audience and setting, both dialogues reveal the same truth: peace grows where people are given the tools to speak, listen, and lead with empathy.
At Robinvale, learners found confidence in transforming their schools from within. In Bonteheuwel, women reclaimed their agency as community healers. Together, they demonstrate how WPDI’s dialogue model, rooted in education, psychosocial support, and local leadership, builds the foundations for lasting peace.
“This discussion didn’t just give me a chance to talk—it gave me new ideas on how to solve some of the problems we’re facing. I feel more prepared now to tackle these challenges.”
— Elizabeth Chante-Lee, Learner, Robinvale High School
“We didn’t just talk about problems—we built solutions. I now have tools to cope, and I leave with hope.”
— Participant, Bonteheuwel Walking Ladies
A Shared Commitment to Peace
By bringing together educators, youth, and women leaders, WPDI’s community dialogues in South Africa reaffirm a powerful message: every conversation can plant the seed of peace. Through partnership, empathy, and education, WPDI and its collaborators are addressing root causes of violence and nurturing the values that make peace sustainable for generations to come.
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