Words for The Amy Biehl Foundation

 

The Benevolent Biehl Award

Presented to Linda Biehl

This award is dedicated to you Linda Biehl for all of your benevolent  and humanitarian work in South Africa over the years. Your kindness, your compassion, and altruistic goodwill has motivated a township to excel in their community, their schools, and most importantly in their everyday lives. Your generosity, your commitment, your time, and your continued support of The Amy Biehl Foundation truly deserves to be praised and admired. You continue to reach out and touch many hearts, and inspire so many people to do better, and to be better human beings. Because of your benevolent work, you have helped to heal old racial wounds, and in the process you have created new racial harmony. You are the embodiment of excellence, integrity, selflessness, grace, and benevolence. Through your strength and determination in preserving the essence of the foundation, Amy and Peter’s humanitarian legacy lives on through you and your family.

I Darin Spencer and so many other people who feel the same way about the work that you and your family have accomplished with the foundation over the years, bestow The Benevolent Biehl Award to you Linda Biehl.

June 2010

“My guests and I were delighted and heart warmed by the beautiful and brave performance of the young boys and girls who attended and participated in the concert.  A definite highlight of the evening  and a memorable contribution in celebrating my birthday.  You and your organization is doing remarkable and inspiring work and I would like to use this opportunity to not only thank you, but to also congratulate you.  Encore! ”  May de Lencquesaing, Glenelly Estate (Pty) Ltd

“Thank you all so much for your performance at my daughter’s wedding last week at the Twelve Appostles Hotel. Your participation and performance was the highlight of the wedding and will be talked about for a long time. Please pass our thanks and best wish to the kids.” Andrew Reid

“I just wanted to express sincere thanks on behalf of Helene and I for the most amazing experience in visiting the various projects today…A day truly to remember.  We were overwhelmed by the talent and energy of the children and how they are thriving in the most basic of circumstances.  Thanks also to Themba for being such an excellent host/tour guide.  He excelled himself in answering our many questions and he explained so many sights and situations to us as we drove through the Langa and Nyanga.  He was very relaxed and a pleasure to be with.  What I experienced today made me realise what an incredible legacy the Biehl family have given to South Africa and in particular the Western Cape.  Well done on all that you are doing.  It is truly precious.”  Muriel Connell

“I remain continually impressed by the work of Amy Biehl Foundation, the dedication of your staff and the impact of your work.” Alice, World Film Collective

“I hope all is well and that everything is moving along at Amy Biehl.  I was just looking through the email that Ilchen sent me and it looks like Amy’s bread is doing fantastically well, congratulations…  My time at Amy Biehl has played a large role in what I want to do career-wise and I’m looking to go back in the Fall of 2010 for a Non-Profit Management degree.  When I first moved down to South Africa I did not in any way, shape or form think that the non-profit arena would be a career path for me but I found the work at the Foundation to be extremely meaningful, challenging and fulfilling.  I was also able to see the impact that an exceptional, inspirational manager could have on an organization.  I’ll never, as long as I live, forget the transformation that occurred down there and consider my time in South Africa to be my most important.”  Peter Butkus

“I spent Spring of 2009 studying Abroad at the University of Cape Town and I had the experience of a life time. I first heard about Amy in a tour of the townships my first week there when we saw the spot where she died. She sounds like she was an amazing woman and I am so impressed by the commitment she had. Throughout my semester I volunteered with an organization through the University of Cape Town and taught 3rd grade Xhosa speakers english. My last week in Cape Town, I was invited to visit the Amy Biehl Foundation by a friend who had volunteered there the year before. I was so impressed with the organization. Of all the organizations I visited in South Africa, Amy Biehl was the one that inspired me the most.” Shira Gabry, USA

 

“I am very interested in going back to South Africa and volunteering with the Amy Biehl Foundation. There is a club on my campus called the Action Abroad Alliance, last summer they went to Rwanda for the summer and helped build communities and work with children with HIV/AIDS. I know they would be very interested in going to South Africa as well, and I’ve already told them about my visit to you guys. I would love to get more information and how it would all work out if a few of us were to go volunteer for you guys. Thank you again for taking time out of your day to visit with us, it was by far the most incredible experience.”  Ashley Ramos, Semester at Sea F09

“Thank you again for your hospitality and graciousness as hosts and guides, as well as for the profound insights that you gave the group into the Amy Biehl Foundation and your personal life as well. Seeing ubuntu lived out in practice beats reading about it any day of the week Absolutely lifechanging! Be sure that you have made lifelong friends and supporters in us all.”  Danielle Jenkins, Semester At Sea

“This is just a quick email to say thank you so much to you and everyone for being so welcoming at ABF during my visit.  I had an amazing time and combined with my work in Philipolis afterwards it became the most memorable and incredible experience I’ve had!”  Lillie Cable

“Thank you so much for sharing the ABF Inspirational newsletter-what a great job the entire organization is doing-how proud you all must be of the progress being made” Larry & Judy Kendall

“I have so much more to say than I have time for now, but I had an amazing time visiting the Amy Biehl Foundation’s work last week! My friends and I were able to visit the showcase of students who learned arts during their holiday. The students and staff were incredibily welcoming!” Yoojin Lee

“To my friends at the Amy Biehl Foundation – I want to thank each and every one of you for your kindness,care, friendship and support these past few months. Being very nervous on my first and not knowing what to expect, the Amy Biehl Foundation soon became my home away from home, and I came to think of each of you as family. From talking and laughing in th eoffice, singing in the car, to making sandwiches, to spending hours at the high security bread factory, I have truly enjoyed each and every minute spent with you.

I am in complete awe of the passion and love in each of your hearts. The work you do each day for the children is unbelievable. I have never seen people who dedicate so much time , effort and love into making the lives of children better. I know it is sometimes hard to see the impact you are having on the lives of the kids, however from an outsider’s perspective, I can see what you can’t. I see the eyes of the children light up when the van drives into the school, I see their smiles and how grateful they are for your presence. I see the way each of them looks at you as a role model and with unconditional love. I can see that each of you at the foundation has helped more children that you will ever know. I have seen from you, the power that one person can have to change the lives of others. I truly believe in the Amy Biehl family that each of you is a crucial part of.

Not only have you touched the lives of the children, you have definitely touched mine. From each of you, I have learned different lessons that have helped me to grow and discover more about who I am and who I want to be.My dreams and goals have shifted, in a good way. Hopefully, one day those dreams will lead me back to my second home, South Africa.

Thank you again, for being such wonderful friends to me, and now that I will always be thinking about each of you! ” Katie Scannell – Volunteer from Valparaiso, Indiana, USA.

“Dear Ayanda, I don’t have enough words to thank you for organising these programs , they really make a difference to these kids and I’m proud to be part of this wonderful initiative. I was really impressed to see the confidence of the girls that were going through difficulties last year, it shows that we can make this world a better place if we want to and I’m in for it. Please shout if you need my assistance at any time”Isabel Khowa , Brand Development Manager SA, The Company of Wine People & Guest Speaker at Girls Empowerment Movement (GEM) – March 2009

I was in the group of SAS-ers that came to visit the Amy Biehl Foundation a little over a week ago, and I completely fell in love with South Africa, Amy Biehl, the mission of the Foundation — really everything that you guys do and believe in. I saw that you take interns and I was wondering what the application process and internship would be like. Is there any way for me to get information regarding those things?Thank you so much for everything! It was incredible to meet you and the team; you all do amazing things.”  Anna Ryan Bucknell University 2011(Semester at Sea Fall 2009)

“I am very interested in going back to South Africa and volunteering with the Amy Biehl Foundation. There is a club on my campus called the Action Abroad Alliance, last summer they went to Rwanda for the summer and helped build communities and work with children with HIV/AIDS. I know they would be very interested in going to South Africa as well, and I’ve already told them about my visit to you guys. I would love to get more information and how it would all work out if a few of us were to go volunteer for you guys. Thank you again for taking time out of your day to visit with us, it was by far the most incredible experience.” Ashley Ramos, Semester at Sea F09

“Dear Mrs Biehl,My name is Joel Semakula and I am an international student  and interned with the Amy Biehl Foundation last summer. I think you are an amazing woman with an amazing heart and your story has changed the way I now live my life as an individual committed to service. I spent two months with the organisation; during this time, I was able to teach English and Life Orientation in a township school, to teach the HIV/AIDS Peer Education class with the after-school programme and play a part in organising and running the camps that took young people from the townships away for their winter breaks. The experience was phenomenal and is one that will stay close to my heart forever. I will never forget the impact those young people had on me and the relationships I was able to build in the short two months I worked with the organisation. The diverse and dedicated team at the foundation made my stay a joyous and memorable one and I miss them all now dearly.  Characters like Faizel, Easy and Ntobeko became mentors and friends for me as I navigated the townships, attempting to get a glimpse into the real lives of the young people I was working with.  I wanted to work with some of the most disadvantaged people in South Africa, the Amy Biehl Foundation made it very possible for me to achieve these goals.  I definitely want to return to South Africa and to the organisation. I also have the desire to continue to support the ABFT. – Thank you for allowing me to have this experience.”  Joel Semakula University of North Carolina

“Recently, my 9^th Religious Studies class finished a project on Women who are modern day prophets. For this project we chose one woman from a list that our teacher had put together and did our project on them. For the project we had to do several things, we had to print out two articles and outline the key concepts and then outline all the highlighted information, we had to create a placard that had a one sentence statement that explained our person’s mission. The final thing we had to do was present a dramatic speech explaining all about our modern day prophet, their mission, and their foundation if any. I really enjoyed this project and found Amy’s work and the continuation of her mission through a foundation in her name truly inspiring and I worked very hard on this project to convey the determination and selflessness that she surely had. Thank you for continuing Amy’s Legacy and providing a place for people to learn about her mission and the mission of your foundation.” – Sophie

“Just wanted to let you know we had a wonderful time seeing the new office, meeting all the staff & the children were outstanding in their talent show! The singing, dancing, violin playing was all inspiring & shows how very important all of it is to them & how it can uplift & inspire them. How wonderful to have those interns! Children TOO CUTE! Great to see Themba & Ntobeko again & they have done a great job! Now that I know your story /background I am excited to see the Biehl Foundation have such an able passionate advocate in you! I am positive Amy & Linda & family are extremely happy. Very excited to see Amy’s Wine project! Being from the wine industry here in California I can tell you that will be a huge success! We shall keep in touch & I look forward to hearing from you & about your continued success! Michael & I will continue to donate yearly and want the money to be spread wherever it is needed & where you think best put to use.” – Kimberley and Michael

“Just to let you know that I really enjoyed reading to the kids yesterday at Mkhanyeseli Primary School.  It was well organised, except that the role model readers weren’t included, so I said they needed to be there as I thought that was the main purpose of it all.  Anyway, they joined the class and it went well. We then went down to the Grade 1’s who are just so cute!  The readers came with and one of them read to them in Xhosa and she did it so well!  It was great to be there and to share it! It’s actually very nice to return to the same school a few times, as one builds a bit of a relationship with the kids and the teachers.  I gave them a whole lot of Oprah Magazines and said next time they need to tell what stories they found inspirational in the magazines. I’m looking forward to my next visit, which has already been arranged. Just thought I’d give you the feedback.  I really love going to read to the children and to interact with them.” - Renée Bishop

“Recently, my 9^th Religious Studies class finished a project on Women who are modern day prophets. For this project we chose one woman off a list that our teacher had put together and did our project on them. For the project we had to do several things, we had to print out two articles and outline the key concepts and then outline all the highlighted information, we had to create a placard that had a one sentence statement that explained our person’s mission. The final thing we had to do was present a dramatic speech explaining all about our modern day prophet, their mission, and their foundation if any. I really enjoyed this project and found Amy’s work and the continuation of her mission through a foundation in her name truly inspiring and I worked very hard on this project to convey the determination and selflessness that she surely had. Thank you for continuing Amy’s Legacy and providing a place for people to learn about her mission and the mission of your foundation.” - Sophie