16th November marks the United Nations (UN) sponsored International Day of Tolerance, highlighting the core values in the UN Charter: "to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, ... and for these ends to practise tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours."
While South Africa's constitution echoes these rights, several foreign workers and families have been subjected to xenophobic attacks, forcing them to seek shelter as refugees.
And so, for this month, FoodBank is showcasing Azaad, a refugee shelter in Cape Town, which still houses refugees from the spate of xenophobia that swept South Africa 18 months ago, and is a FoodBank beneficiary. Refugees are among the most food insecure populations both globally and nationally, and hence an important area of focus for FoodBank South Africa.
Azaad, meaning "place of freedom", is a refugee shelter in Cape Town, just behind the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. It is supported and recognised by the United Nations Refugee Office.
The facility provides shelter and food for 30 people from different countries, mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Somalia. They left their home countries and families to escape civil war and poverty. With informal jobs such as gardening or parking attendants they earn enough money to pay a minimal amount towards the accommodation and send the rest home to their families.
Azaad enables its beneficiaries to be part of society by teaching them life skills such as reading, writing, nutritional education, how to cook a nutritious meal and typing. They also help in getting all documents for a legal work permit from the Department of Home Affairs, finding a job and opening a bank account.
This step towards legal participation in society is especially of importance for those who are quite well qualified in their home country but had to experience that their qualification does not transfer to the South African labour market.
Grateful for all Azaad does for them, the refugees are happy to have a place to call home, and we as FoodBank are proud to support them.
