Anna – From the confines of a cocoon to a butterfly with Women’s Platform
Young and ambitious, Anna – who has lived most of her life in South Africa – has found a home at Scalabrini, and hopes that her time here is a key step to achieving her goals.
Donatha – An education finally within reach with UpLearn
Donatha’s dream is to give back to her community. To do this, she wants to hold specific qualifications – qualifications that were cut short by a long migration across Africa to Cape Town. Upon arriving, Donatha was determined to continue her university education, and finally found a lucky spot at UpLearn, through the help of a stranger. She dreams of using her HealthCare Management degree to help give back to the community in any way that she can.
Placide – Returning to a life left behind with help from Welfare Programme
Placide’s journey has made a full circle. Sitting in her shop in Cape Town – where she makes clothes, eats and sleeps – she speaks of the life she has established here. Meanwhile, she is preparing to go back to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – a process that has been assisted by Scalabrini’s Welfare Programme.
Memories of a life once known
Placide fled her home in DRC 11 years ago. Sitting in Brooklyn, Cape Town with her life’s possessions packed into suitcases behind her- ready to take back to DRC- Placide speaks of her journey to South Africa.
DRC is still facing ongoing conflict, which has claimed over five million lives. Placide was a nurse working in an army hospital where she came face to face with brutality. “They were killing people. That’s why I ran away to South Africa. They were looking for me to arrest me because I said the truth.”
“When I made 100 bags, I’d put them on my back and go straight to Muizenberg. I’d start on the road, selling one by one until Fishhoek or Simonstown, every Sunday. I walked, no train, no bus. I walked.”
Placide traveled from Kinshasa to Lubumbashi. Then to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Johannesburg and finally Cape Town. “Cape Town was very hard for me. You had to go to Langa to apply for asylum. You must go during the day and sleep there until tomorrow…. It took me one year to get my asylum permit.” To add to the stress of documentation, Placide’s living situation was uncomfortable. “I was living with one of my friend’s sons, but he made it very difficult for me to stay with him. I was sleeping on the floor.” When Placide suffered from a stroke, her church helped her find a room of her own. She still struggles with her health to this day.
Rebuilding a life in South Africa
A strong and persevering woman, Placide got money together to buy a sewing machine. “When I made 100 bags, I’d put them on my back and go straight to Muizenberg. I’d start on the road, selling one by one until Fishhoek or Simonstown, every Sunday. I walked, no train, no bus. I walked.”
The Welfare Programme was Placide’s first point of contact, where she received social assistance. Scalabrini then approached her to run sewing workshops for Women’s Platform. This helped bring in a more steady, less strenuous income.
“The biggest help from Scalabrini was meeting lots of people and getting work. I get more people and more customers coming to me. Then when they’re helping me like that, I opened my own small shop. When I opened my small shop here, I trained the Scalabrini ladies here.”
“I am scared to go home – it’s not peaceful. But I want to go… I have my house, I have my family. I miss them and they miss me. I am here alone, like I don’t have people. That can make me sick again.”
Making the journey home
With regards to her health, getting help in South Africa has proved difficult. This was a major factor in her decision to go home. “I decided to go home because I my health is not good – my blood pressure is high and my heart is not beating nicely.” Without family nearby, Placide worries what would happen to her if she were to fall sick. With this in mind, Placide has decided to return to her family.
The Welfare Programme was able to assist Placide with returning home. Going home does not come without reservations and fear. “I am scared to go home – it’s not peaceful. But I want to go… I have my house, I have my family. I miss them and they miss me. I am here alone, like I don’t have people. That can make me sick again.”
Arriving in DRC
Placide took off from the Cape Town International Airport on 25 November 2019. She arrived safely in DRC and was received by her family. She keeps in contact with the Welfare Team and says she has resettled happily in DRC.
Quelani: I can see where I’m going – life after Women’s Platform
Quelani had to leave her family behind in Zimbabwe, but found herself a family in South Africa, which she credits the Women’s Platform for.
Leaving home and losing family support
Zimbabwe was not in a good way after the elections in 2008; attempts at a coalition government were not successful and atrocities were committed with impunity against opposition supporters. The economy was in dire straits and there were severe food shortages. In December 2009, Quelani and her husband made the difficult decision to leave their family behind and come to South Africa.
“When I first arrived in Cape Town, I fell into a depression because of the change of environment, health issues and missing my family. I went from having a big family to just my husband, it was something that I didn’t take very well. I am a family person.” Language barriers made integration difficult. “It was not very easy to meet people. When you are not South African and are in another land where you don’t speak the same language; understanding each other is very difficult.”
“When I dropped out in Zimbabwe, I was so hurt. I couldn’t explain it and I couldn’t talk about it. I was seeing people being successful because they were going to school. Education is the key, but I couldn’t go to school.”
While still in Zimbabwe, Quelani was studying Travel and Tourism. She was forced to drop out because of the economy. “When I dropped out in Zimbabwe, I was so hurt. I couldn’t explain it and I couldn’t talk about it. I was seeing people being successful because they were going to school. Education is the key, but I couldn’t go to school. When I came here to South Africa, I thought it was going to be easy for me to go to college or university, but it was the opposite.” She started working for a guesthouse in Cape Town, trying to keep close to what she loved to do, but the job itself was not for her. This would eventually lead her to Scalabrini.
Speaking the same language
Quelani found out about Scalabrini at church. She recalls that, walking into the Scalabrini offices, she gained a kind of family. “When I first walked in here I felt at home, I felt like I belonged here. We all spoke the same language, the language of love. We are all so united …The bitterness that I had and missing home, it started to disappear”
After eight years of not being able to study, it was a pivotal moment when Quelani discovered she could continue learning and doing hospitality at Scalabrini. “I was trying to go to school…finally I could go and on top of that, they saw some leadership in me, that I can teach the other ladies. That was so powerful.” Another significant moment for Quelani was realising that she can be helpful in her own community in Cape Town – despite not being South African.
Purpose and direction
“The biggest help from Scalabrini and Women’s Platform is knowing myself better and doing what I love. I love people. Knowing myself better was so helpful from my education side and my personal life too. There are many things that I am now putting into practise after Personal Development.”
“Back in Zimbabwe, I am a village girl. I thought I couldn’t do anything, life was always about looking up to men and they must do everything for us, but after I came here things changed. I see that women can do anything, even the things that men do. I can see where I am going.”
Quelani dreams of having her own catering company in the future. She would also like to help teach and empower the women in her own community, not just at Scalabrini. “Most people from Atlantis find it difficult to reach Scalabrini, so I wish to have some days when I can teach women, so I can be empowering other women like me and show them that there are better things that they can do, other than staying at home.” Scalabrini has helped Quelani in regards with her self-esteem too. “Back in Zimbabwe, I am a village girl. I thought I couldn’t do anything, life was always about looking up to men and they must do everything for us, but after I came here things changed. I see that women can do anything, even the things that men do. I can see where I am going.”
Nzenze: Finding A Place with UNITE
Nzenze, 17, is currently enrolled in the eleventh grade at Vista High School and is an active member of UNITE, where learning about diversity has taught him to celebrate his unique identity.
Growing Up a Second Generation Immigrant
Nzenze is the youngest of four children. He was born and raised in South Africa, but his parents both migrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Growing up in South Africa has been a struggle for him because he recognises the detachment between his parents’ experiences and his own. He does not feel that he connects with his Congolese mother tongue, for example, due to his South African accent. “Sometimes, the difference can be hard. It can feel like you don’t belong,” he reflects. However, Nzenze goes on to say that growing up surrounded by such cultural diversity has made him more open to difference than he would have been if he was raised in the Congo.
“At first, I was afraid to join because they told us that everyone at school would look at us as leaders. I thought, what if confident people look up to me and realise I am shy; it will mess up the dynamic!”
UNITE As a Tool to Promote Personal Growth
“UNITE made me see how much we can learn from different people instead of judging and criticising,” Nzenze says. UNITE aims to promote acceptance and critical thinking in youth living in South Africa by facilitating programs which explore the themes of identity, integration and diversity. Students participate in activities which encourage them to think critically about their contribution to communities and effective ways to enact change. Initially, though enticed by the promise of building leadership skills and a strong community, Nzenze was rather apprehensive to join UNITE. “I used to be very shy,” he begins, “but I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I had to jump at the opportunity, because if I let it go, I’d continue to be shy forever.”
“At first, I was afraid to join because they told us that everyone at school would look at us as leaders. I thought, what if confident people look up to me and realise I am shy; it will mess up the dynamic!” Nzenze credits the shift in his confidence to his experience at UNITE camp, which was the first time he gathered the courage to actively participate in debate. Now, students recognise Nzenze for how articulate he is. “People say ‘let him go’ when it’s time to present because they like the way I speak,” he mentions.
Discovering the Value of Diversity
Aside from debate, UNITE has introduced Nzenze to the inclusive worldview he now possesses. “The biggest topic I learned through UNITE was about diversity. Diversity brings new ideas. For me, it’s the best thing that happens to people. You can learn dances and styles of dress and even see that your lifestyles are not that different.”
Nzenze appreciates the fact that his mixed identity allows him to relate to multiple groups. “It’s nice to have different accents and be able to adapt. I am comfortable with people of different races. One of my best friends is Xhosa. Sometimes he tries to speak my language and asks me what things mean in my language. Jade defines the term of us uniting. I looked around and realised we are united.”
“The biggest topic I learned through UNITE was about diversity. Diversity brings new ideas. For me, it’s the best thing that happens to people. You can learn dances and styles of dress and even see that your lifestyles are not that different.”
Malaika: Learning to Love Myself
Malaika, 16, is in grade ten at Sea Point High and has been a member of UNITE for the past two years. Her involvement has taught her a lot about the importance of confidence and self-love.
Discovering the Beauty of Integration
Malaika was born in Cape Town and raised in Gugulethu. She joined UNITE two years ago, and it has played quite a significant role in shaping Malaika’s social life at Sea Point High. “Before UNITE, I never thought I would be friends with people who aren’t black. I have been surrounded by black people my whole life, so I just expected to feel a connection with black students more than others.”
Malaika went on to explain that the topics she was introduced to through UNITE shifted her worldview. “We talk about integration and it has opened my mind to a lot of things. Here at school, you find different kinds of people who segregate themselves from each other. UNITE has given me the confidence to get up and talk to them. Now, I am open to having relationships with people I would not see in my own community.”
“Hearing what people say about you can determine how you feel about yourself, when you should be in charge of that. I had to realise that there is much more to life than being a certain size, or getting likes on Facebook and Instagram. If I’m going to base my life on that, I’m not going to live my life the way I want.”
Change Starts From Within
High school has challenged Malaika beyond just engaging with her peers. UNITE has taught her to continuously question her actions and beliefs.
“In grades eight and nine, I dealt with a lot of self-image problems, to the point that I became a vegetarian.” Malaika blames the media for instilling the pressure she felt to look a certain way. However, UNITE ignited meaningful dialogue that taught her to prioritise her own ideals over socially-imposed ones.
“Hearing what people say about you can determine how you feel about yourself, when you should be in charge of that. I had to realise that there is much more to life than being a certain size, or getting likes on Facebook and Instagram. If I’m going to base my life on that, I’m not going to live my life the way I want.”
Malaika’s self-assurance can be observed in casual conversation, but she mentions that exuding confidence has not come naturally. She describes coping with judgement and negativity as an intimate process. “When you’re at home, sitting in your room dealing with these things, you look into the mirror and see it’s just you. When it comes to dealing with what people say, it’s just you.”
Practicing What You Preach
Malaika plans to spread the importance of seeking self-validation to her younger peers. She is doing so by starting an organisation whose sole purpose is to encourage girls to be comfortable and confident in their own skin. She plans to facilitate group discussions and build a community of support for girls who face similar struggles.
Furthermore, Malaika’s ambition extends beyond the halls of her school. In the future, she plans to become a human rights activist, and to advocate for the rights of marginalised individuals. Equipped with her tenacity and drive, Malaika is sure to find success wherever she turns.
“Now, I am open to having relationships with people I would not see in my own community.”
Isaac: On the Path to Emergency Medicine with the Employment Access Programme
Isaac was 25 years old when he left his home, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and made the journey to South Africa, alone. After spending time in Zambia and Zimbabwe, he arrived in Cape Town where he is now pursuing his dream of getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Care from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Isaac reflects on how the Scalabrini Employment Access Programme fitted in with his journey.
Arriving in South Africa
Back home in DRC, Isaac had completed nursing school and was working for an NGO. He was also involved in politics, but was aware of the fact that when you speak the truth in a country facing political instability, you can quickly become a target. Very sadly, an eruption of conflict saw Isaac losing members of his family. Others fled in different directions. He made the decision to leave his home, with no idea of where he would end up.
Isaac describes his arrival in South Africa as a difficult time. “It was a very difficult situation. My first time in Cape Town was lonely, arriving in a place where you don’t know anyone, with no family. I spoke no English. It was very, very tough, but because I was determined I kept going until today.”
Finding Scalabrini
Through the Congolese community, Isaac found the Scalabrini Centre and the right programme to guide him in the direction he was wanting to go. He joined the Employment Access Programme where it was discovered that the South African Nursing Council did not recognise his qualifications, so his studying venture in South Africa began.
Furthering His Education
“I applied at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) six times. I applied, they rejected, I applied, they rejected, but I kept on trying. In the meantime I was doing extra courses, like first aid, nursing courses, basic life support. I was doing that in order to meet the requirements of the university.” In 2017, Isaac met the requirements and was accepted into both Radiology and Emergency Services. He chose Emergency Services.
Staying Positive
It has not been the smoothest journey for Isaac. CPUT does not provide bursaries for foreign students, which means that Isaac works night shifts at the Cape Town Mediclinic trauma centre and studies during the day. This does not leave him with much time, and he has had to re-do a few subjects.
While Isaac is focused on graduating, he remains aware of the hardship facing his community. “I don’t just want to be focused on myself. So far I have tried hard, and I am somewhere, but I’m also thinking about other people who are on the same journey. If I can graduate it will be a plus for me, a plus for the Congolese community and a plus for other foreign communities in general as I will be better equipped to help them. When we help more people, we create the positive cycle and reduce suffering in our communities.”
Want to take action?
If you are able to help in any way, Isaac has a BackABuddy account where people can donate money to help pay for his studies. The donations will go straight to the account of CPUT. The link is provided below.
Laurence: Prosecutor, Cleaner and Volunteer through Employment Access Programme
We hear from Laurence, a prosecutor from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), who has worked as a cleaner, cook and volunteer here in South Africa. Now, with the assistance of the Employment Access Programme, she is rising through the ranks, and reconnecting with her passion.
Fleeing the Democratic Republic of Congo
Laurence is a strong woman. In DRC, she was driven to become a prosecutor because women “didn’t have a say in the family and in society.” Laurence explains that it was her goal “to target all men who abuse women”. It was ultimately also this fire and passion that forced her to leave. When Laurence sentenced one particularly powerful man to prison, she began receiving death threats. “In Congo, when someone promises to rape and kill you, you better take that threat seriously. You have to run for your life.” Laurence fled to another city in DRC. There, she was warned that she was still not safe – and so she started her journey to South Africa.
Solidarity with South Africa
Laurence remembers the way Congolese people had helped South Africans during apartheid. “We prayed for South Africa from afar. We could feel the pain of people in South Africa. Growing up, I thought we are one with South African people.” This bond and sense of solidarity with South Africa encouraged her to seek asylum here. The reality of South Africa was, however, rather different to what she had expected.
Faced with a new country and a new language, Laurence found work as a cleaner and then a pizza chef. She worked these jobs for nearly a decade. Deeply frustrated that she could not use her legal skills, Laurence quit her jobs and started to volunteer at a primary school. She has worked her way up and is now vice chairperson of the school board.
Connecting to opportunities
Laurence sought assistance at the Employment Access Programme, which connects documented clients to job opportunities through skill training and professional development.
Here, Laurence’s legal qualifications were submitted to the South Africa Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and, whilst awaiting the outcome, she was connected to opportunities in French-English translation – including at a legal conference hosted by the Bertha Foundation. Finally, Laurence is starting to re-grow connections into the legal world. She sees her experience as a refugee as a key aspect to her upcoming opportunities.
A dream of home
Once the violence has subsided, Laurence hopes to return home to DRC. She’d like to resume her role of prosecutor. For other people in a similar situation, Laurence says: “I understand the pressures of everyday life, but it is important to follow your dreams and not only concentrate on working for money, because sometimes we have to make sacrifices in our life to reach our goals”.
Stella: Lessons of Strength and Independence From Lawrence House
<br?Stella, 21, arrived in South Africa in 2008 after migrating from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with her uncle. After adjusting to life in Cape Town, Stella was ready to resume her education; she and her uncle looked to Lawrence house, a child and youth care center registered with the Department of Social Development, for support. Lawrence house specializes in the care and protection of unaccompanied foreign minors and refugee children, as well as children who have experienced trauma.</br?
A Family Reunion
The transition from living with her uncle to moving into Lawrence house was eased by the fact that two of her brothers (one older, one younger), were already there. Stella had been disconnected from her brothers for almost two years. Eager to pick up where they left off, Stella believes that the time they spent apart made their relationship stronger.
Stella describes having positive, and even familial relationships with other children in the house. She believes that their similar backgrounds prevented feelings of isolation, and allowed themselves to better relate to one another. “Half of us came from the same place, from the DRC, some Angolans, so I didn’t feel insecure of my background; we had the same struggles, same challenges,” she says.
Developing Skills and Meaningful Relationships
Lawrence House invests in the personal development of its children. Growing up, Stella regularly attended dance classes, and the program facilitated a multitude of other activities like karate, cooking classes, weekend picnics, trips to the movies, in addition to providing emotional support resources like counseling and therapy. “Every week, we had something to do,” Stella reminisces. “We did not watch TV on a regular basis because there were so many other things taking place at the house, good activities.”
Leadership and staff at Lawrence house played a crucial role in shaping Stella’s experience, and she describes the depth and significance of these relationships fondly. “I bonded with Auntie K and Uncle Jeff the most. They taught me that life is about challenges, and that overcoming challenge is what gives you strength. They also provided comfort for me when I was missing my family.”
They taught me that life is about challenges, and that overcoming challenge is what gives you strength. They also provided comfort for me when I was missing my family.”
Pursuing a Passion for Fashion
In addition to emotional support, staff at Lawrence House assist youth to pursue fields of work and study that are suitable for their skills and interests. The manager of Lawrence house, known to Stella as Aunt Gulia, guided her through the process of applying to university. “She explained what certain things were, helped me with processing papers- they don’t let you leave Lawrence house without having something to do. Even if it’s not university, they will help you find a short-term job and get on your feet before letting you go,” says Stella.
Stella is currently a textile engineering student at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. She recalls growing up with a passion for clothing design, and feels challenged and fulfilled by her studies. “My courses come along with a lot of theories. It isn’t just about drawing designs; there’s a lot more to the field, and I have learned so much.”
Stella plans to finish university this year, and her long-term goal is to work until she can afford to bring the rest of her family from the DRC to South Africa. “In terms of my decisions and choices, I can say that I wouldn’t be the person that I am today without Lawrence house. I’m a stronger person because of my experience there. I always think back to the lessons staff members gave me. Before, I wasn’t as strong as I am now, but I can make decisions that I’m sure will work in my way,” she reflects.
“In terms of my decisions and choices, I can say that I wouldn’t be the person that I am today without Lawrence house. I’m a stronger person because of my experience there.
Vincent: Opening your mind to others through UNITE
Nineteen-year-old Vincent is set to complete twelfth grade in a few months. Reflecting back on his time at school, he credits UNITE for much of the person he is today.
The attraction to UNITE
UNITE, Scalabrini’s youth program, explores issues of identity, integration and diversity with young people. Working collaboratively from within the South African secondary education system, UNITE provides a unique extra-curricular curriculum that promotes activism and critical thought.
Vincent first learnt about UNITE from a school announcement. “I thought I would check it out as it sounded interesting. The facilitator explained that the programme would help you to become the best version of yourself. What attracted me was that the main focus of the programme was unity, diversity, identity. I thought this program can build a character in me that I will need forever.” Vincent signed up immediately. Three years later, he continues to be an active member of UNITE’s Inter Club Council (ICC).
Each school has a UNITE Club which is led by peer elected ICC members. ICC members attend themed workshops at the Scalabrini Centre in preparation to lead discussions at their schools UNITE Club.
Challenging perspectives on LGBTIQ
UNITE has exposed Vincent to topics that have challenged his perspectives. One tangible change is his attitude towards LGBTIQ issues. “I used to see people in the LGBTIQ category as people who were inhumane or beasts. I was telling myself that you have to live life a certain way; in the way you are expected to live. The discussions we had in UNITE made me question my perspective and challenged my way of thinking. It made me more accepting of how others live. I no longer judge a person by how they feel, what they believe in or on their walk in life. Instead, I now look at them for the person they are. This would have never happened without this program. It has been absolutely life changing”.
Emotional support and safe spaces
UNITE is not only about developing perspectives; it crafts a unique, safe and intimate space for the participants. “I’ve never felt as free as I do at UNITE. It’s an very safe environment,” Vincent describes. He recalls a reflection session held at a UNITE camp in 2016 and the emotion that filled the room as people started to share past experiences. “They were in tears. This is not just a program that builds and develops us; it also counsels us and supports us.”
“They were in tears. This is not just a program that builds and develops us; it also counsels us and supports us.”
Vincent’s experience with UNITE changed his mind set significantly. Perhaps more importantly, it is youth like Vincent who will invoke long term change in attitudes towards others in South Africa. Indeed, this fits in with UNITE’s wider goal: to work towards a society that is inclusive and accepting of others regardless of their race, nationality, religion, gender or sexuality.
