SPONSORSHIP AND FUNDING
- how to get involved in our creation of a better future for all

The work of the Community Peace Programme has seen that poor communities do indeed have the knowledge and capacity to make serious and sustainable contributions to their own safety and welfare.  When they find the space and opportunity to reflect on their situation, without the pressures of conventional notions of patriarchy, authority and leadership, their hard-won knowledge of their own communities, their problems and their resources can come into its own and find innovative responses.

Safety and secure environments cannot be an isolated responsibility of a solitary department or sub-department of the local, provincial or national government.  A core objective of the Community Peace Programme is to ensure strategic partnerships with government departments and other social partners, such as business, labour and civil society.  Clearly defined specific intervention areas and activities make the agreements meaningful and all the partners work together to achieve a common vision and goal.  The Community Peace Programme is committed to ensure conformity to the financial accountability required by government.

The mission of the Community Peace Programme is to accomplish the following:

• To build, refine, maintain and promote an effective and sustainable model of local governance in co-operation with local communities, using conflicts as “windows” to deepen democracy.

• To build a model of equal and mutually accountable partnership between state agencies and organs of civil society.

• To document and reflect critically upon processes and practices and disseminate the result to a variety of audiences.

• Work creation through investment in communities that promotes sustainable development.

The Raoul Wallenberg Foundation, through the University of Lund, Sweden provided funding for the first three years of model-building phase, as they recognised the Community Peace Programme as an innovative approach to human security.  From 2000 to 2007 the Embassy of Finland in South Africa financially supported the extension and refining for the model, in collaboration with the Department of Public Service and Administration, Department of Community Safety, Department of Education and the Department of Social Services.

Local municipalities provide more limited support in the launching of Peace Committees in their areas.  The South African Police Service shares physical space and information with local Peace Committees.  Peace Committees establish channels of communication with other community organisations and with relevant professionals in community safety, education, social services and environmental affairs.

The Community Peace Programme has tested the assumption that people living in a poor neighbourhood, with limited resources and inadequate education and training, nevertheless have the knowledge and capacity to make a substantial, positive and sustainable difference to the lives of themselves and their neighbours.  The resolution of over 33 000 disputes, providing training and income for 500 active Peace Committee members, and the latest expansion since 2007 of 1000 facilitators in 100 sites, has proved that this assumption is correct. 

The continued success of the programme depends on internal co-operation and involvement of the communities, as well as the funding and sponsorship from external organisations and the support of local authorities and police.

To expand the Community Peace Programme nationally and globally, Implementing Agents are being identified for the programme's extension.  Approved Implementing Agents receive (at no charge) a copyrighted package of materials, which consist of the documents needed to execute the programme.