Archbishop Desmond Tutu played a key role in transforming South Africa.

Born in 1931, Tutu grew up in the north-west part of the country. He moved to Johannesburg when he was twelve. Tutu earned his bachelor’s in teaching and taught for three years. When the Bantu Education Act passed in 1953 - further segregating schools - Tutu left teaching in protest and enrolled in St. Peter’s to become a leader in the Church.

In 1965, he returned to South Africa as Anglican Dean of Johannesburg, the first black to hold this position.

At this time race relations in South Africa reached a violent peak. In 1976, during the Soweto Uprisings, hundreds of students were killed for protesting against the Apartheid school system.

The world was outraged and many turned to violence. Desmond Tutu spoke out against violent behavior and urged non-violent means to reach peace.

Tutu travelled throughout Africa and abroad to speak about the inequality of Apartheid. In 1984 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his continued fight against the Apartheid government. He is often referred to as South Africa’s “moral conscience ”for his patience and forgiveness.

Today, Tutu promotes human rights throughout the world as an active member of The Elders and The Desmond Tutu Peace Centre, and stands as an image of peace throughout the world.

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Text by Kathryn Berk. Image by Daylin J. Paul