Forest of Truth Photo Gallery

Trees us give life and sustenance. They bear fruit, reminding us that we can do the same, in spite of the profound harm caused by rape and sexual abuse. They are symbolic of endurance; of the capacity all of us have to continue growing even when awful things happen to us or when we have experienced grievous wrongs and violations against us. 

We invite you to plant a tree in the name of a survivor of sex abuse by clergy, who perhaps have told only his or her family, or only one trusted person. Together we can create a ‘forest of truth’, a testimony that the problem of sexual abuse by clergy is not about a few isolated cases, and won’t go away by itself.

Welcome to our ...

The old happiness is withered and dead. But, see, there is greenness veiling the land.. the frail beginnings of a new and better life" Pam Brown

The first album in the gallery is of the 78, apple trees donated to Nkosis Haven by WTTL, the second album is of the 20 african-olive trees sponsored by Reaching out America, that were planted at the Stanza Bopape Community Centre, as an extension of the Forest of Truth. 

Nkosis Haven Album 

The creators of WTTL have donated seventy-eight fruit trees to Nkosi’s Haven, as a growing, life-giving tribute to the suffering and courage of thousands of survivors of sexual abuse by clergy, worldwide. The donation of fruit trees is to a Nkosi’s Haven farm outside Vereeniging, South Africa, currently being set up on a kibbutz style of living, and to Nkosi’s Haven Village, which accommodates 100 moms and 183 children. The donation of trees is a reminder of our capacity to reach out to others even in our own suffering. 

Stanza Bopape Album

This album features pictures of the planting of the 20 African Olive trees and 20 bags of compost, sponsored by Reaching Out America, They were planted, by WTTL, at the Stanza Bopape Community Development Centre in the Stanza Bopape informal settlement in Mamelodi. The 48 children who were present represent the hundred and three children who attend the Drop-In Centre there each day. After the tree planting, the children hands and decorated their pictures to be put inside the Reaching out America Child Abuse Monument. The trees will help to improve their physical environment and eventually give them shade. Thank you ROA, for your generosity.