1. SOUTH AFRICAN GROUNDSWELLS
2. MOSAIC GRADUATES ITS SECOND CLASS
3. ST. GABRIEL'S COMMUNITY CENTRE CONTINUES TO SERVE
4. IKAMVA IABANTU ADDS NEW PROGRAM EMPHASIS
5. THEMBA MUSIC PROGRAMME OFFERS HOPE TO YOUNG MUSICIANS
6. VUSISIZWE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT MODEL EMERGES
7. KHAYELITSHA MATHEMATICS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
8. ULWAZI COMMUNITY CENTRE SHOOTS AT NEW HOOPS
9. CROSSROADS YOUTH CENTRE IMPRESSES
10. BOOKS BRIGHTEN LIVES
11. KHAYELITSHA GOLFERS TO REALIZE DREAM
12. HAPPENINGS
13. AMY BIEHL YOUTH SPIRIT AWARD
14. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN
15. "REMEMBERING AMY BIEHL" EXHIBITED BY SHARON TISSUE
16. JUSTICE MINISTER OMAR SPEAKS ON RECONCILIATION PROCESS
17. MESAB ANNUAL DINNER IN WASHINGTON DC ON APRIL 8, 1997
18. AMY BIEHL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER GRADUATES
19. INTERNATIONAL UNITY WEEK--NEWPORT HARBOR HIGH SCHOOL
20. HILLSBOROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL DINNER
21. ROTARY SUPPORT FOR MOSAIC
22. GLOBAL FUND FOR WOMEN SUPPORT OF MOSAIC
23. BABLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GLENCOE, MO
24. PASSAGES: A NEW VOICE
25. THANK YOU
26. TRANSITIONS
27. Response to Question by Peter Biehl on "Closure"--ARIEL DORFMAN

Four years ago, on August 25, 1993, Amy made her transition from her eventful life on earth to an even larger life of committed service to the under-served and to the hopeful. Her FOUNDATION draws breath and inspiration from Amy and her example. It is a creation of family and friends who loved her in life, and is now extended by many hundreds of new friends - young and old- who want to make a constructive difference in their world and who enjoy doing this in Amy's name. This NEWSLETTER is dedicated to Amy and to her hundreds of unselfish friends throughout the world who carry on for her with zest, joy and friendship. Back to the top

SOUTH AFRICAN GROUNDSWELLS

The recent visit by Linda and Peter Biehl to the Western Cape Region provided opportunities for the FOUNDATION to revisit old associations and to create new ones. Together, they create groundswells of activity and of promise. Back to the top

MOSAIC GRADUATES ITS SECOND CLASS

On Saturday, July 26, MOSAIC graduated its second class of Community Workers in ceremonies held at University of the Western Cape. Rolene Miller, Director and founder presented each Community Worker a commemorative pen from the FOUNDATION. There now are 24 MOSAIC Community Workers in the field - a multiple of three times its core group of 8 workers from the first graduating class. Today, MOSAIC is more widely recognized in South Africa and in Washington, DC for its pioneering work in the healing and empowerment of women and children who are victims of domestic violence and abuse. Support is now flowing from a variety of sources, including the provincial government. Back to the top

ST. GABRIEL'S COMMUNITY CENTRE CONTINUES TO SERVE

Youth Sunday on June 29 saw another packed house at St. Gabriel's Church in Guguletu. Present in the congregation were Chilean Ambassador and Mrs. Jorge Heine, Chilean poet/author and human rights advocate, Ariel Dorfman, American educator, Dr. Herma Williams with 24 students from Northwestern University, and the Kendall family of St. Louis, MO. Venerable Parish Priest, Fr. Basil Van Rensburg, invited Peter and Linda Biehl to address the congregation and accepted a Scott Lowenbaum poster as a tribute from the FOUNDATION. Truly, St. Gabriel's Church and Community Centre continue to amaze with their warm and joyful commitment to human service. Back to the top

IKAMVA IABANTU ADDS NEW PROGRAM EMPHASIS

Director Helen Lieberman and her intuitive and energetic program management team have created an important new program emphasis on economic empowerment of the marginalized people served by IKAMVA. New community industries and small businesses are being created to produce dolls, puppets, back-packs, children's apparel, beaded belts, beaded dog collars and other beaded items of imagination and utility; all selected by Helen for uniqueness and marketability. The FOUNDATION has samples and product literature and will work to establish wholesale and retail distribution in the Western United States for these charming, beautiful and well-made products. Back to the top

THEMBA MUSIC PROGRAMME OFFERS HOPE TO YOUNG MUSICIANS

Well-schooled jazz musician/music teacher Benjamin Lewu and his assistant, David, travel daily to high schools in the black townships and squatter settlements to bring instruction in music theory and in brass and keyboard instruments to eager students. Unfortunately, Benjamin and David lack a living wage and reliable transportation and their students must be taught on recorders and on the occasional, out-of-tune piano. The FOUNDATION is putting out a call for used musical instruments and electronic keyboards to create a more effective teaching program and an economically-sustainable used instrument sale and rental business to provide service to the motivated students, subsistence income for Benjamin and David, and the financial capability to recruit additional teachers. Other than pawnshops, there are no used musical instrument dealers in the Western Cape, so the opportunity for this enterprise is very attractive. So, go to your closets, find your old instruments and send them to the FOUNDATION as a tax-deductible gift! Each instrument sent to South Africa will be identified with its donor, so we can follow its ultimate path and destination, and personalize the outreach. Back to the top

VUSISIZWE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT MODEL EMERGES

In the township of Langa, a new economic empowerment model is emerging in a sewing and knitting project which designs, makes patterns and produces beautifully-made traditional dresses and more contemporary fashions. This apparel is then sold at a weekend flea market in a Cape Town suburb. The VUSISIZWE manifesto proclaims: "The time has come that we as Black South Africans stand up and be counted in the economic emancipation of our country - no one but ourselves will build this country." We concur. VUSISIZWE starts with one sewing machine and a couple of knitting machines. The FOUNDATION has found these young women a wonderful advisor who was raised in Langa and who has helped them open a bank account with seed capital provided by the FOUNDATION. Back to the top

KHAYELITSHA MATHEMATICS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

A Cape Hats squatter settlement of over 1.5 million people, Khayelitsha high school mathematics classes average 70 students per teacher. With average household populations of 16.5 persons, it is difficult to imagine how aspiring math and science scholars, motivated to succeed in life, can achieve quality study in a home environment so filled with people and distractions. For this reason, mathematics teacher, Herbert Baatjes, and some colleagues have formed a Saturday tutorial project to prepare some 70 motivated students to score well on the written mathematics and physical sciences examinations in November. These important examinations determine level of placement in university courses. Higher level students are tomorrow’s engineers and physical scientists. The FOUNDATION has invested seed capital and is attempting to acquire scientific calculators and textbooks. It is hoped that South Africa's CALTEX Petroleum will partner with us on this important program, to open a door for young South African scholars. Back to the top

ULWAZI COMMUNITY CENTRE SHOOTS AT NEW HOOPS

This well-established Community Centre, which keeps young people occupied in self-improvement activities and out of trouble, showed us a broken basketball backboard and hoop which was frustrating an apparently-talented coed basketball team in its attempts to run orderly and productive practice sessions. After solicitation of competitive bids, the FOUNDATION donated a new backboard, hoop and nets and instructed the team to win! Back to the top

CROSSROADS YOUTH CENTRE IMPRESSES

Under the capable direction of Ms. Nobom Sonto the CROSSROADS program for young people, and its exceptional youth music and dance troupe, left an indelible impression on Linda and Peter Biehl. The FOUNDATION presented a "PEACE BOOK", prepared and written by Mrs. Judy Kendall's language Arts Class at Mary Institute and Country Day School in St. Louis, MO. This extraordinary book of prose and poetry was written and compiled for the youth of the Western Cape by their contemporaries in St. Louis, in honor of Amy Biehl, who proved that one life could make a difference. A lasting bond was created with the Centre -commemorated by the gift of a Scott Lowenbaum poster. Back to the top

BOOKS BRIGHTEN LIVES

Larry, Judy, Tracy and Debbie Kendall - who joined Linda and Peter Biehl in Cape Town from June 27-July 5- were of tremendous assistance with the FOUNDATION'S educational outreach to children and school teachers. While in Cape Town, the Kendalls sorted through hundreds of books that had been collected and sent to South Africa by Tracy's students in St. Louis. The books were then presented to schools and community centers and to Rolene Miller's Rotary Club for use in a special waiting room for children waiting to appear in court to testify in child abuse cases. South African children and teachers prize books, and Tracy Kendall proved it is possible to successfully send books to South Africa in U.S. Postal Service mailbags. Back to the top

KHAYELITSHA GOLFERS TO REALIZE DREAM

One July afternoon, in a light rain, Linda and Peter Biehl were introduced by Associated Press cameraman, Alvin Andrews, to the "hidden golfers" of Khayelitsha. So-designated because they roam from empty field to vacant lot in search of a place to practice their shots and to teach children the game and rules of golf, these golfers have dreamed for years of a driving range and putting green where they could practice and teach children after school. Their dream seemed very remote as they stood in the rain and hit 575 golf balls supplied by the FOUNDATION and friends Bob and Liberty Herrick of La Quinta. Today, thanks to the support of former NPL star Larry Moriarty and MORIARTY CHARITIES - in partnership with the FOUNDATION - a golf driving range and putting green will be constructed on land to be donated in Khayelitsha. The new KHAYELITSHA GOLF CLUB will be developed as a self-sustaining economic enterprise and violence prevention project. The FOUNDATION will keep the enterprise supplied with golf clubs, balls and equipment and the project design will be environmentally sound and neighbor-friendly. The FOUNDATION is excited about this project and about its new association with MORIARTY CHARITIES. Hopefully, this will be the first of many such sports/violence prevention projects we will do together. Back to the top

HAPPENINGS

Recent months have been eventful, with many noteworthy activities surrounding the FOUNDATION. We are highlighting some of these activities in order to provide a sense of the dynamics of FOUNDATION life. This summary is not meant to be inclusive, only indicative. Back to the top

AMY BIEHL YOUTH SPIRIT AWARD

On April 25th, Renee Garcia (19) was presented with the fourth AMY BIEHL YOUTH SPIRIT AWARD in Albuquerque, NM. This inspiring ceremony, held on Amy's birthday and hosted by NEW MEXICO ADVOCATES POR CHILDREN & PAMILIES, featured presentation of the ALBUQUERQUE TRIBUNE's $1000. scholarship check and etched glass artworks to the winner and finalists by Deanna Sauceda (KRQE-TV), the award's creator. On August 14, 1995, Renee Garcia was preparing to start a new year of high school. While at her car, she was brutally stabbed in the neck by a boy who was attacking her as part of a gang initiation. She has gone beyond her physical impairment, being partially paralyzed, to become a motivated activist, speaking against youth and gang violence. Peter and Linda Biehl presented FOUNDATION checks to the four remaining finalists - Greg Brown, Prank Port, Shira Greenberg and Jennifer Nguyen. Back to the top

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN

On April 19 at Desert Falls Country Club in Palm Desert, Kim, Molly, Linda and Peter Biehl spoke to the DESERT CHAPTER of MUW during its monthly luncheon meeting. Molly drove from San Diego and Kim from Newport Beach to lend their talents and perspectives to the presentation and to make it a family effort. It was a successful event that provided the FOUNDATION with an opportunity to become more visible in the Coachella Valley of California, its new home. Back to the top

"REMEMBERING AMY BIEHL" EXHIBITED BY SHARON TISSUE

Artist Sharon Tissue honored Amy with creation of a high-fired ceramic relief, which was exhibited at the Sculpture Group Gallery in Danville, CA during March and April. Based on one of the best-known photos of Amy in South Africa, Sharon decided her 14" X ~8" wall-mounted ceramic piece would reflect that image: "...right or wrong - that was how the world knew her and remembered her." Several of Amy's closest friends from Stanford and elsewhere were able to view the piece during its exhibition. The Biehls hope - one day - to find a fitting installation site somewhere in South Africa or in a meaningful place in America. The FOUNDATION, family and friends sincerely appreciate this very touching memorial by Sharon Tissue, whose studio is in Lafayette, CA. Back to the top

JUSTICE MINISTER OMAR SPEAKS ON RECONCILIATION PROCESS

South Africa Minister of Justice, Dullah Omar, spoke on his nation's unprecedented Truth and Reconciliation process at a Washington, DC event hosted by the INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW GROUP on April 7th. Linda and Peter Biehl were able to surprise Minister Omar - one of Amy's most significant mentors - by capturing front row seats. Ambassador and Mrs. Franklin Sonn hosted a beautiful and intimate reception for the Omars at the South African Embassy later in the evening. Back to the top

MESAB ANNUAL DINNER IN WASHINGTON DC ON APRIL 8, 1997

Washington's famous CORCORAN GALLERY Or ART was the scene of the annual award dinner hosted by MEDICAL EDUCATION FOR SOUTH APRICAN BLACKS, founded by Herb and Joy Kaiser in 1985. South African legend, Hon. Helen Suzman, and KELLOGG COMPANY Chairman, Arnold G. Langbo, were honored for their service to South Africa and Reverend Frank C. Strasburger was named MESAB's new President during this beautiful evening. The FOUNDATION looks forward to a close working relationship with MESAB in implementation of violence prevention projects throughout South Africa in the future. Back to the top

AMY BIEHL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER GRADUATES

Lisa Marie Lyons, M.D. was graduated from the University of Nevada School of Medicine on May 16th in Reno. Holder of the AMY BIEHL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - supported by the DERMODY FOUNDATION of Reno, Nevada - Lisa Marie will complete her residency in internal medicine in Las Vegas. She plans a career in community medicine. Our thanks go to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Dermody and the DERMODY FOUNDATION for making this dream a reality for Dr. Lyons, in Amy's memory. Back to the top

INTERNATIONAL UNITY WEEK--NEWPORT HARBOR HIGH SCHOOL

Kim Biehl joined Loyola University cross-cultural professor, Erylene Piper-Mandy, Ph.D. for an assembly and staff luncheon during Harbor High's International Unity Week this spring. The week-long event, organized by Harbor International Ambassador program advisors, Michele Silver and Diana Long and their student-globalists, stressed the common threads which link the world's many and ostensibly-diverse countries and cultures. Back to the top

HILLSBOROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL DINNER

Our friends at HILLSBOROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL once again succeeded in organizing a great day for the FOUNDATION. On Friday, May 23rd, Linda and Peter Biehl spoke to a large student assembly about democratic values, South Africa's struggle for a free vote and Amy's example of a single person's ability to make a difference in her world. That evening, HILLSBOROUGH's Team 6F hosted a family-style dinner in Amy's honor, featuring foods donated for the occasion by area restaurants and caterers. This terrific event raised over $700 for the FOUNDATION, received excellent press coverage and extended a wonderful tradition that was initiated by Steve Schwarz, his fellow teachers and Team 6F students in 1996. Steve and his colleague, Marybeth, even revealed their recent engagement to be married. We thank everyone associated with this second annual event and Mr. and Mrs. Kitmitto, who arranged a reduced-rate accommodation for Linda and Peter Biehl at the New Brunswick Marriott Hotel, for the second consecutive year. Back to the top

ROTARY SUPPORT FOR MOSAIC

Thanks to the preparation and efforts of FOUNDATION friend Rodger M. Bivens (Mountain View, CA), ROTARY clubs in San Jose and Palo Alto matched $500 grants for MOSAIC which, in turn, will be matched twice, culminating with ROTARY INTERNATIONAL. The result will be $4000 in ROTARY grants for MOSAIC, to be made in ROTARY's 1997-98 program year. We salute Rodger Bivens and ROTARY for their generous commitment to MOSAIC. Back to the top

GLOBAL FUND FOR WOMEN SUPPORT OF MOSAIC

Rodger Bivens did not stop with ROTARY. When he learned that a fellow ROTARIAN in Palo Alto is associated with GLOBAL FUND FOR WOMEN, Rodger introduced them to MOSAIC and - almost immediately - Peter Biehl was in a telephone conversation with the FUND to validate the MOSAIC story. Rolene Miller has since been notified that MOSAIC is soon to be the recipient of a GLOBAL FUND FOR WOMEN grant. Back to the top

BABLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GLENCOE, MO

During a unit on "Peace" and on "People Who Have Made a Difference", Joyce Foster's fourth grade class at BABLER ELEMENTARY viewed "Inside the Struggle: The Amy Biehl Story" (ABC "TURNING POINT") twice. These students were sufficiently moved to prepare the most incredible messages and illustrations to express their feelings to Linda and Peter Biehl. The observations of fourth grade students were both pure and thoughtful and prove that many age groups can be impacted by the example of a life well-lived. Back to the top

PASSAGES: A NEW VOICE

On June 4, 1997, Amy's good friend and FOUNDATION Board Member, Carole Hoemeke and husband, Chris, became parents for the second time. Amy Elizabeth Hoemeke joins brother Tommy to complement this terrific young family. While watching the re-run of ABC's "TURNING POINT" on August 7, Carole wrote to Linda and Peter Biehl; "...I still believe I will always value Amy's solid friendship. It is possibly this that most inspired Chris and me to honor her with the naming of our little girl. Our hope for our Amy is that she will strive to be her best at whatever she sets her mind to be and, most important, she understands what it means to be a friend." Back to the top

THANK YOU

• To Joan Liggett (NEIMAN MARCUS) for cosmetic and fragrance samples which were distributed to women throughout the townships and squatter camp settlements
• To Larry Biehl for arrangements with MORIARTY CHARITIES.
• To the Kendall family for all they do for the FOUNDATION and, especially, for the video and photographs shot during their journey with the Biehls.
• To Johnny Duffy, Wanda Martin and Molly Biehl Corbin for assistance in computerizing the FOUNDATION mailing list (bear with us as we correct misspellings, etc.) Back to the top

TRANSITIONS

On July 8 and 9, Linda and Peter Biehl attended the Amnesty Committee (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) hearing to consider the amnesty applications of four of Amy's convicted and imprisoned killers - each of whom is serving an 18-year term for murder and public violence. At the conclusion of the second session of testimony - after the applicants and their legal counsel had put on their cases - Linda and Peter presented a statement. Its purpose was to highlight Amy and her committed life and to articulate a

Following are excerpts from that statement.

"We come to South Africa as Amy came: in a spirit of committed friendship."

"But Amy was always about friendship. About getting along. About the collective strength of caring individuals and their ability to pull together to make a difference - even to transform corrupt nation-states."

"The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was pre-negotiated and fundamental to your free elections. We therefore, support the process, which is unprecedented in contemporary history. At the same time, it is your process

- not ours. We cannot, therefore, oppose amnesty if it is granted on the merits. It is for the community of South Africa to forgive its own - a tradition with its basis in "ubuntu". But amnesty is not something Linda and Peter Biehl can grant. It is not a family matter."

"In her June 21, 1993 letter to the CAPE TIMES editor, Amy quoted the closing lines of a poem - 'Victoria West' by Sandile Dikeni - and we would close our statement with these incredible words:

'They told their story to the children, they taught their vows to the children that: we shall never do to them what they did to us.’"

In the time since Amy's murder, many people have asked about "closure". During a lecture in Cape Town on the evening of July 1, Peter Biehl had the opportunity to ask Chilean human rights activist Ariel Dorfman - an internationally-respected author/poet - to describe "closure" and whether it is truly important.

We close our NEWSLETTER with Dorfman's amazing words in answer to the question - spoken without preparation in a packed lecture hall - in the hope that the words will reach the people who ask the difficult question. Back to the top

Response to Question by Peter Biehl on "Closure"-- ARIEL DORFMAN

I think closure happens when you have the body. When the person who hurt that body asks for forgiveness, repents for having done that and say they will not do it again. That is a form of closure. I think, I think, closure happens that because those bodies disappeared or were hurt because of all the damage done the results rather than being held are steps towards paradise. In the sense that though every death is terrible, a death in vain is much more terrible than a death that did not lead to a community resolving its problems. I would say closure particularly happens when every person in that community is able to take that person home with them and make that person part of their home and part of their lives.

On the other hand, I feel we should not lie about closure -we should not see closure for its own sake or seek closure as the solution to all problems. Because I do believe there are pains we should not pretend do not exist. I'm sorry to put this as bluntly as I am doing, but even all the closure in the world cannot return Amy Biehl. I mourn for it, I grieve for it. I do think we have to deal with the ambiguity of existence. It is difficult to deal with. The TRC is being asked to deal with all these things - it is being asked to do more than it can possible do. It cannot offer closure. Each person will find his own form of closure. Closure is both satisfactory - it's a haven but closure also means to close, and close is the opposite of life. Life opens. So, at times we have to live with those wounds and those openings - and there is no alternative - because we cannot solve the basic mystery of life. And that life is entangled with death in a tremendous way.

(The above was recorded and is an unedited transcript of Dorfman's words as he spoke them.)

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