IFCA offers South Africa a unique space of safe conversation and engagement, which is non-partisan, and does not allow for partisanship, but is strongly values based.
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Faith and Mining
The Faith and Mining Engagement has been in existence since 2015 in South Africa, and has over the years played an instrumental role in creating a safe space for mining sector stakeholders to have meaningful conversations about the shared challenges faced, building the foundations for praxis.
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When launching in South Africa (based on a global programme of Days of Reflection, hosted in various years by the Vatican and Lambeth Palace), His Grace the Archbishop of Cape Town wanted three changes to the global programme.
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To be multi-faith, rather than a Christian dialogue.
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To be about South Africa, and mining’s role in the country, rather than primarily about mining.
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To not be days of reflection, but rather days of Courageous Conversation - Asking each other difficult questions and holding each other to account.
The very first question His Grace asked of a mining CEO was “Would you want your children to be miners, working underground?”
Commitments
We share a desire to play a positive role in South Africa, a desire to work for the common good wherein South Africa becomes a just nation for all people. Faith holds the key to unlocking much of this, and so remains our constant grounding. We are not to be used or co-opted to support political or business ends or self-interests, other than to recognise that the best interests of South Africa is in the interest of us all.
We recognise that commitment in the absence of action is worthless. We are catalytic, and as catalysis and enablers we recognise we may need to become activist, but we remain grounded in faith and in the achievement of the common good.
Our Journey to Committed Action
IFCA's journey has been one of building trust, creating safe spaces for dialogue, and ultimately providing leaders with the space, support, and network to use their positions to create the good they want to see in the world.
