Rev. Spiwo Xapile is a prominent community leader, the former director of the J.L. Zwane Community Centre in Gugulethu, South Africa, and a former professor at the University of Stellenbosch. His reflections on Stories Move Mountains capture its value and uniqueness:

“A lot of people from the West come here with good intentions, but have little or no respect for the people here and who they are. They come and behave as if they know it all and their way is the only right way.

“Our people are often led to feel bad about who they are and what they never had or were never able to rise from. With Stories Move Mountains, we begin by talking and being with people just as they are. We help people to identify the skills they have, and access and build on those, so they can go beyond the past experiences that have defined them, be proud of who they are, and really see for themselves what they are capable of.

“With Stories Move Mountains, people feel they are contributing to the whole process, that they are actively involved and engaged. The engaging is the process.

“Stories Move Mountains allows communities and individuals to reflect on who they are, what they want to change and want to embrace, and how they can work together toward those things they dream of achieving for the good of their communities.

“People have recaptured some hope and now see some possibilities beyond old stories of oppression. These leaders can now begin to see what they are capable of.”

After working closely with Ariella in the townships near Cape Town, South Africa, Spiwo co-wrote this article with her: Tree of Life.