[ISEA2018] Institutional Presentation: Raymond Perrier — Denis Hurley Centre

Institutional Presentation Statement

Since 2015, the Denis Hurley Centre has served the needs of the poorest people in central Durban. We bring together and work with the full range of citizens of Durban: Jewish, Hindu,  Christian and Muslim; black, white and brown; South Africans and foreign nationals; able-bodied and disabled; poor and wealthy. We offer the poorest in the city service through our clinic, feeding scheme, vocational training, educational and community support, and pastoral outreach. We also host arts programmes, lectures and events. We treat all people with the respect and honour they deserve as children of the one God. Our inspiration and namesake was Durban’s archbishop for 45 years. Denis Hurley was known in South Africa and internationally as a courageous proponent of justice and peace, opponent of apartheid and forward-thinking churchman. Our home, the Denis Hurley Centre, is a major new landmark building in the middle of possibly the busiest, most vibrant and diverse area of Durban. We are located between the Emmanuel Cathedral, the Grey Street Mosque, and the Victoria Street Market, sharing the space with a multitude of street traders and swarms of taxis. We work in partnership with other NGOs, corporates, educational institutions and faith groups who are committed to transforming inner-city Durban. We are proud that over 60% of our funding comes from Durban and less than 20% from beyond South Africa.  denishurleycentre.org

  • Raymond Perrier is the first Director of the Denis Hurley Centre, an interfaith community centre in the heart of Durban helping the poor and marginalised. Before 2015, Raymond held leadership positions in different Catholic NGOs, as Director of the Jesuit Institute in Johannesburg; and as project director in a Ugandan refugee camp with the Jesuit Refugee Service. For 14 years he worked professionally for global marketing consultancy Interbrand, eventually as Managing Director of their New York office. Born in the UK, Raymond holds a BA in Philosophy and Theology from Oxford; an MA in Philosophy from the University of London; and an MSc in Human Rights from the London School of Economics. He is a PhD candidate at UKZN on the subject of Theology and Development.