Silveira House
| Established | 1964 |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Social justice and development |
| Location | |
Director | Fr. Gibson Munyoro, SJ |
| Affiliations | Jesuit, Catholic |
| Website | Silveira |
Silveira House Jesuit Social Justice and Development Centre was founded in 1964 and named after Gonçalo da Silveira, the first Jesuit priest to come to Zimbabwe in the 16th century. Its programs have adjusted to the changing landscape of Zimbabwe, but have always been directed toward uplifting the disadvantaged and vulnerable.[1] It has been described as "at the heart of the social transformation agenda in the country."[2]
History
Silveira was founded by Fr. John Dove, S.J., in 1964, in the midst of the oppressive and racist regime of Jan Smith.[3] Trade union courses at the centre produced later leaders like Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Zambian president Frederick Chiluba.[4] He remained at Silveira House until 1984.
With independence in 1980 and new opportunities for the black majority, Silveira turned to civic education for political participation, and to skills training, agriculture, and community building.
With the political strife and economic woes that began in the late '90s, Silveira launched programs in peacebuilding, lobbying, and advocacy, and increased its technical training capacity.[1]
Looking ahead
The second decade of the 21st century has seen some improvement in the economic and political situation in Zimbabwe. As the country moves closer to democracy, training in civic responsibility has become a priority. Also, many who have never seen the benefits of independence since 1980 are the focus of Silveira's current skills training programs, with facilities at Silveira house for car repair, wood carving, and stone sculpturing. Advocacy for more social services for the neediest goes on unabated.[1][5]