Refugees in South Africa
Thousands of refugees fro
m surrounding war-torn and destitute African countries flock to South Africa in hope of a better life, or just a means to at least feed their children. However, life is not easy for them when they get to South Africa, a country that itself has huge levels of unemployment and poverty. The refugees are faced with dealing with Home Affairs to get their asylum papers, a lengthy and difficult process. They are often faced with xenophobia from South Africans in the communities they are trying to stay in, who see them as unwelcome and a threat to their employment. They find themselves, having escaped the horrors of their home countries in a desperate situation, now having no access to basic necessities like food, clothing, shelter, and water, let alone employment and a positive future for themselves and their families.
In order to make this difficult transition easier, there are several non-profit and human rights organizations in Cape Town that aim to assist this needy population. Connect-123 has partnered with these organizations that include refugee centers, orphanages, activist organizations, legal aid clinics, and organizations that offer humanitarian assistance, and skills training and development. Our interns and volunteers come and apply their skills to assist these organizations in helping these desperately needy people.
This is an area that needs great assistance and we look forward to welcoming more people to help in this area. Whether you have an interest in human rights, are able to speak French, have a legal background, social work skills, are interested in research around issues of migration, or you simply want to help, we need you! Many of our program participants volunteer their extra time to assist refugee orphans with their homework, and even donating unwanted clothes and toiletries goes some way in helping to give these people at least some dignity and a chance for a better life.
Tags: human rights
