IDEX has funded groups in Zimbabwe for many years. Under the current political climate we have not been able to expand our grantmaking there and instead are researching organizations in South Africa that are supporting refugees. In Johannesburg, IDEX Program Officer, Vini, met with Group of Refugees Without Voice (GRWV).

GRWV was established in September 2002. It supports refugees, particularly women from Congo, Burundi, Sudan and Zimbabwe, in skill building for employment in South Africa and to support them in integrating into South African society. When refugees started trickling into South Africa to escape war and repression they found that South Africa was not always the safe haven that they imagined. GRWV supports long-term, durable solutions to end poverty for these families and build bridges with South Africans.

South Africa's vibrant civil society continues to work diligently to hold up the promise of a rainbow nation. But the rise of migrants and refugees from Somalia, Congo and Zimbabwe are triggering xenophobic violence in the country. Last year South Africa saw an unprecedented escalation in violence towards migrants when on May 11, 2008 a gang of young men from the Alexandra township of Johannesburg initiated merciless attacks on migrant workers living in a hostel. These attacks soon spread to provinces of KwaZulu Natal, Eastern and Western Cape. There were over 60 casualties, a third of them South Africans but ten of thousands of refugees were once again displaced.

The advisor to the board of directors, Norman, is from Johannesburg and explains the "majority of South Africans feel threatened because of high unemployment. They see refugees employed and think that jobs are being stolen when in reality refugees are willing to do even the most demeaning of jobs just to survive. We try and educate S. Africans about the plight of refugees. We try to remind folks that until not so long ago, all black South Africans, we were refugees ourselves in our own land."

Since 2002, GRWV has trained 150 people, along with a computer education program, they also pay school fees, provide stationary and transportation for refugee women to send their children to school.

A sewing project they established now works closely with businesses to encourage vocational training of women. Young women also learn dressmaking, fashion design and cutting skills. The organization actively encourages interaction and apprenticeships between refugee women and S. African women to build greater understanding.

A focus on advocacy in schools and vocational training with women has been key. Through schools, GRWV found that children would bring more inclusive attitudes towards refugees home to their parents and help parents build greater awareness. Also, instead of just helping refugee children, the group intensified its efforts to ensure that all children have access to supplies and books.

In the future, GRWV hopes to begin a small business seed capital loan and microcredit program to support the newly skilled graduates in launching their own businesses. Since employment through mainstream channels are not often available to refugees. As yet, this kind of funding is not available to the organization.

GRWV reaches out to refugees through refugee camps, informal settlements, markets and schools. Their list of people who need help continues to grow. Temporary support is given to refugees via UNHCR and Jesuit Refugee Services along with the Home Affairs Refugee Desk; a monthly stipend of roughly $80 for a family of four barely covers food.

Refugees in camps do not even receive stipends, only rations, thereby increasing dependency. It can take up to 12 years for refugees to have their case for asylum case heard. During this time work and housing are hard to find.

Chrispin Milengechi, the Congolese director of GRWV, tells us his own story. He had been a successful business owner in the DRC. He fled the war and came to Johannesburg where he hoped to live with dignity. But he found that all he could afford was a 30-foot square room, which he shared with 12 other refugees. His experiences in the DRC and as a refugee horrified him and he decided to live and work as a human rights activist, co founding GRWV with others.

GRWV has a waiting list of 100 people who need its service. 40 people are being actively enrolled and supported through their fledgling vocational skills program. The organization has gender parity in staff and board membership. Men and women treat each other with respect and kindness. There are important and needed financial, reporting, entrepreneurial and management skills on the board. Some members are also invited to the meeting.

We met Nora a young Congolege woman originally from Lumbumbashi. Nora is single and 19 years old. Initially hesitant she begins to tell us her story. She fled Lumbumbashi, DRC in 2003 with her mother, sister and brother. All three siblings are in college in South Africa.

Nora is studying fashion design and contacted GRWV in 2008. “I wanted them to assist me with my college fees. They haven’t been able to assist me yet, but I pray that they will soon.” She has attended university off and on for the last year due to lack of school fees. “This program should take three years to complete but it will take me longer because I have to keep dropping out. I just don’t have enough money.” Nora hopes to become a fashion designer. “Also, I want to do catering and interior design. I love making things beautiful. Sometimes, I get small jobs to create table settings for formal functions and I love it.” These jobs offset the cost of her school fees. “At the end of a job, I may earn up to 400 ZAR ($44 US), but typically you earn only 100 ZAR ($11 US), for an entire day of work.”

Nora is optimistic and upbeat about her future despite having to flee her country and the obstacles she is currently facing in South Africa. On this day, GRWV is holding a mini-workshop on effective communication in and between refugee organizations. Nora is an active participant. She gives valuable input on what is effective and ineffective communication and draws upon her experiences in college to inform the discussion.

In spite of a xenophobic environment and entrenched inequalities, the refugees in South Africa and the organizations that support them have hope. The organizations and the beneficiaries are vibrant and joyful and committed to a vision of a more inclusive South Africa, where the dignity and creativity of all her people are equal.

Labels: Refugees, South Africa

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