FRANSCHOEK, South Africa — I am in this southernmost country of the continent of Africa attending a gathering of human rights and social movement lawyers from different parts of the world.

The gathering is sponsored by the Bertha Foundation, a charitable organization set up by a South African philanthropist whose overall vision is to create a network of activists, storytellers, and lawyers who are “working to bring about social and economic justice” in various countries suffering different forms of inequality and oppression.

The conference is being held in one of the oldest farms in South Africa, called Boschendal, which was founded in 1685. The farm is nestled in a picturesque valley surrounded by dramatic mountain landscapes, and located 60 kilometers from the beautiful city of Cape Town. Boschendal has a vineyard that produces award-winning wines, fruit orchards, vegetable gardens, and cattle and other livestock farms.

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