A new day is dawning in Mozambique.
After nearly many years of civil unrest, the small nation on South Eastern coast of Africa is starting to rebuild. The promise of limitless possibilities beams from the smiles of school children running to new or partially built schools. Unfortunately, these smiles often turn to tears as financial backers of many development projects are failing to meet their commitments. As the global financial crisis strikes panic in the hearts of funding institutions, money initially earmarked to help develop post war Mozambique has all but dried up. In response to the growing number of commissioned development projects losing financial backing, Celio Mondlane of Fundacao Joaquim Chissano and Minister of Education Dr. Zeferino Martins, have turned to social media to encourage wide spread investment in their county’s future as well as showcasing its success stories. Educate Mozambique is the blog platform where anybody can learn about and support education initiatives all over Mozambique. It is essentially a way of crowd sourcing new

Flag of Mozambique

 avenues of funding, empowering individuals with information about ways they can contribute. Now, instead of waiting for a massive check that may never come from a bank that no longer considers “charity” a priority, any number of concerned individuals from anywhere in the world can give a little bit of money or time to make a big difference in the lives of children in Mozambique.

Visit the site learn to more about how you can support Educate Mozambique!

Two foreign nationals at the refugee camp during the xenophobic attacks in South Africa in 2008.

An awareness workshop on xenophobia held by the City of Cape Town at the Cape Town Civic Centre on 24 July 2010 is  proof that there are people in this city who are prepared to stand up for their brother and sisters from other countries.

The workshop aimed at reigniting the spirit of ubuntu in people’s minds. Many hands are better than one and if South Africans work together and make peace, the word “xenophobia” will remain only in our history books.

The City looked at factors that might contribute to these attacks. They felt that there is a need for community leaders to step out of their comfort zone and open the minds of communities.

The City found that communities might be lacking in political education about refugee rights. For this reason the workshop was held.

The organisers hoped to use this work to resolve issues that lead to these attacks. It set out the steps that needs to be taken to end the criminal violence.

The City feels that if Ward Development Forums, Ward and Street Committees, the Department of Social Development (both city and province) and church leaders could engage themselves in the communities they serve, they will be able to implement possible solutions.

THE WAY FORWARD

A refugee camp for victims of xenophobia in South Africa in 2008.

Ongoing, educational workshops can be conducted for local residents to be made aware of the Bill of Rights and refugees rights. Civil Society and Community leaders can also discuss these rights in their community and at sectoral meetings.

The power of advertising can be very useful to resolve these issues.  Posters, pamphlets, and word-of-mouth can lead people in the right direction.

As a social science research and communications consultancy working in the development sector, Creative Consulting & Development Works has seen the impact that communications can have on development issues and changing people’s perspectives.

Awareness programmes, targeting both high schools and primary schools would be very beneficial, as youth were also involved in these attacks.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

A mother and baby in a refugee camp.

Rallies are meant to mobilise communities, not only during the elections but also when issues like these crop up.  In this way the broader communities can be reached.

Community Based Organisations (CBO’S), Faith Based Organisations (FBO’S), and government departments can devise a mass awareness plan to reach out to those who are unaware of refugees rights. They have the power to facilitate and build cooperation between local and foreign nationals involved in businesses.

Humanitarian Agencies, Coordinating Committees and Government have to keep record of active organisations that deal with refugees. They have to support them to enhance their power to implement education and awareness programmes.

It is everyone’s responsibility to protect our rights and freedom. We can all live in love and peace with our brothers and sisters.

What is your opinion about the xenophobic incidences that are flaring up in South Africa again?

]]> http://www.developmentworks.co.za/blog/awareness-workshop-held-on-xenophobia/feed/ 2 http://www.developmentworks.co.za/blog/refugee-children-promote-love-and-unity-with-musical/ http://www.developmentworks.co.za/blog/refugee-children-promote-love-and-unity-with-musical/#comments Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:25:26 +0000 admin http://www.developmentworks.co.za/blog/?p=913

A refugee girl in one of the tents used to house people displaced by xenophobic attacks in South Africa in 2008. Photo: Development Works

Beautiful! Exquisite! Professional! Captivating! This is what everyone sang after a well-presented musical play by Lawrence House, a refugee children’s home, which forms part of the Scalabrini Centre’s welfare programmes.

The show, commemorating Lawrence House’s 5^th anniversary, was entitled “Mad Word” and was advertised by word of mouth. The “mad word” spread and it generated more than a hundred audience members.

While some disturbing incidences of xenophobia have flared up in South Africa after the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and a number of foreign nationals have left their homes in fear, this show displayed the theme of unity and love and emphasised the importance of “a happy family”.

Formed in 2005, Lawrence House is dedicated specifically to the care of abandoned and unaccompanied refugee minors. Its motto is the Bible verse “I was a stranger and you accepted me”. The House and its separate teenager cottage can accommodate up to 30 children. Boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 18 are taken in. Currently the House shelters children from Angola, DRC, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

We at Creative Consulting & Development Works are firm believers in equal rights and observing the Constitution of South Africa, that is why we have also worked with the NGO for refugees, Adonis Musati Project.

If children from different walks of life can come together and use their talents to put on such a wonderful show, why can’t we as adults bury our differences and work together as well?

Now that South Africa has proven that it can present a world class Cup and Closing Ceremony, what will it tackle next? Photo: AFP - Monirul Bhuiyan

The final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup was played last night and Spain walked away with the cup. Now that the World Cup has come to an end, newspapers are already starting to ask “What next for South Africa?” How can we harness the positive energy generated during the past month to achieve much needed development objectives for the country?

IOL.co.za reports that “rarely can a global event have generated so much advance pessimism as the World Cup”, but South Africa has silenced all its critics by hosting a successful tournament. The closing ceremony held at Soccer City in Johannesburg last night was especially spectacular and of a world class standard. Images were projected onto the field, Shakira sang Waka Waka and hundreds of dancers demonstrated various South African dances.

Keep on Feeling it

Will the closing ceremony mean the end of the positive vibe in South Africa? Photo: www.shine2010.co.za via Flickr

“Feel it!” was the catch phrase of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Ray Hartley writes “We felt ‘it’. Now let’s define and bottle ‘it’” in the Sunday Times. According to him everyone felt a certain emotion when Bafana Bafana sang the national anthem before the kick-off of this cup. And we kept feeling that emotion as South Africa showed that they could host a mega sports event.

Hartley says this “it” can probably be defined as patriotism. “True patriotism is very different to nationalism. It is closer to the notion of civic duty, the desire to do something to make your country a better place and to celebrate others who make the same effort.”

He says we should now find new outlets for this patriotism. “In this scenario, we would treat our major civic challenges – such as the delivery of houses, health, safety and education – in the same way we treated the World Cup.”

But our patriotism should not turn us into a “nation of spin doctors” that do not want to give criticism where it is due. After all, criticism can help you to recognise your weaknesses and improve on them.

Patriotism should also not turn into an ugly nationalism involving xenophobia, David Smith writes in the Mail & Guardian.

Olympic Games?

Should South Africa bid to host the Olympics? Image: Patrick Hoesley via Flickr

Some have suggested that South Africa bidding to host the Olympic Games next would be a way to keep the “high” produced by the World Cup going. But Danny Jordaan, chief organiser of the Soccer World Cup is quoted in the Mail & Guardian as saying:  “There is a sense of pride and achievement. We’ll have to see how we will ensure that pride is not the pride of 90 minutes in a World Cup but a permanent feature. Some people say find it in the hosting of the Olympics, find it another big event. I think we must find it in addressing some of the issues — housing, health, education, economic growth. We have to come together to deal with some of these issues.”

A renewed focus on development issues within the country, with renewed vigour and passion would be wonderful. It is something that Creative Consulting & Development Works, as a research, evaluation and communications consultancy working in the development sector definitely supports.

Also read our previous blog piece on the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and leave your comment.

Photo taken by Anatelle Ford for the Adonis Musati Project.

More than a decade ago, Archbishop Desmond Tutu defined Ubuntu as an ethic which is upheld by someone  who has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed.’ In short, he described ubuntu as the essence of being human.

But what is the meaning of these words in the face of the mistreatment of refugees in South Africa? In front of the Department of Home Affairs, there are always refugees who have been sleeping on the pavement for days, trying to obtain an asylum seeker’s permit. They are not even allowed to use the building’s toilets and risk losing their place in line when seeking this service elsewhere.

 Recently it was said in the news that a lorry reportedly carrying sewerage had sprayed effluent onto hundreds of desperate immigrants young and old   at the Methodist Church refugee camp in Johannesburg.

 For decades, refugees have been a significant feature of the South African landscape.  South Africa has given official recognition to refugees, a move that has been highly appreciated.  However, refugees have experienced varying degrees of acceptance or rejection as they strive to make a living in a foreign land.  

Photo taken by Anatelle Ford for the Adonis Musati Project

 The scenarios presented above and other untold stories, makes one wonder whether the ethics of Ubuntu will remain a political philosophy. Ubuntu calls us to place equal value on all individuals, to raise the voice of those who otherwise cannot do it for themselves. It defines what it really means to be a human being.

The Adonis Musati Project, for one, believes in the spirit of Ubuntu. Named after a young Zimbabwean who died of starvation on the streets of Cape Town, this organisation aims to support refugees in their endeavours to make a life for themselves.

 The Development Works team hopes to support them as much as possible.