Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu is a Patron of the Bishop Simeon Trust. He writes:
"Simeon Nkoane C.R was my assistant Bishop who brought hope and help to communities torn apart by racism, conflict and poverty. Today the Trust named after him continues to bring hope and help, working with people in ways which value their lives, and so overcoming the legacy of apartheid. If you can support the Bishop Simeon Trust, I strongly encourage you to do so."
In the last week of January 2004, Desmond Tutu made an appeal for the Trust on BBC Radio 4:
"As we approach the 10th anniversary of democratic and non-racial elections in South Africa, we have much to celebrate. There is also a great legacy of deprivation which needs your ongoing support if we are to be truly successful in overcoming apartheid. If you can, please join me on BBC Radio 4 to consider helping us."
Almost ten years after our first democratic elections we are still living with the legacy of decades of injustice caused by apartheid.
Thousands of families in South Africa go without sufficient food, clean water or medicine. The poorest children are still not in school, and now we face the horrifying impact of HIV-AIDS.
Without the support of the Bishop Simeon Trust, literally thousands of people would face deep despair at the situations in which they are trapped.
On this website you can read about remarkable people who have responded to their communities’ needs and because of support from the Trust, many lives have been changed.
Rebecca and her volunteers care for eighty children, providing the one meal each day for the youngsters in her rural township who have no parents.
Grace has a team of volunteers who provide home care for over two hundred people who are dying from AIDS-related illnesses, supporting children losing parents as well grandparents losing their children.
One patient, Jane, said she was not afraid to die because she knew that her two young sons would be lovingly cared for by Grace.