The Scalabrini team works with migrants and refugees every day. With such deep expertise at hand, we take the opportunity to reflect on migration with them. This month we speak to Julia, the Women’s Platform Livelihood Manager at Scalabrini, whose passion is kept alive by the strength and power she sees in the women around her.
Moving to a country that has 11 national languages and not being able to speak one of them is an unnerving experience. This was Steve’s experience when he moved to Cape Town for the first time. Not only could he not speak the languages, but he was unable to practice as a doctor any longer. Undaunted, Steve took the challenge as an opportunity and after lessons from Scalabrini English School he began teaching the beginners English classes – with dreams of creating his own medical research app bubbling to the foreground.
This Valetine’s day, we are sending #LoveLettersToMotsoaledi, calling on him to open dialogue with us on new refugee laws. #ChatUsUpMotsoaledi
Once Abel completes his studies, he will return home to Zambia and plans to continue the kind of advocacy work he has been doing at Scalabrini there. Read more about Able’s experience below.
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’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.
The Scalabrini Centre expresses solidarity and support for our partners organisations’ recent court case on undocumented children regarding their access to education in South Africa.
The Scalabrini Centre expresses solidarity and support for our partners organisations’ recent court case on undocumented children regarding their access to education in South Africa.
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Peyton has found the sustainability of Women’s Platform to be encouraging and inspiring. Volunteering at Scalabrini has solidified in her mind that she wants to continue working towards educating and empowering vulnerable women. Read more about her experience here.
“I am interested in immigration reform and social justice, specifically in education and women’s empowerment. I work as the Personal Development Intern for the Women’s Platform.
I have gained so many professional skills as well as gained a whole new understanding of the immigration system in South Africa. I feel that my communication and problem-solving skills have greatly improved. There is always an effective, intersectional approach to alleviating unnecessary pain and struggle. Scalabrini is a manifestation of this concept.
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“The sustainability of the Women’s Platform is so encouraging and inspiring; to be so confident that years from now, women will continue to be taught, nourished, and empowered through this organisation.”
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This is what I want to do with my life. I want to work with vulnerable women to empower and educate them. I have made connections with the clients and staff at Scalabrini that have changed my perspective on what it means to be a human living among those different from you. I am grateful for the opportunities presented through this organisation.
The most memorable experiences have been working with clients directly. I love helping/attending workshops, when the women come to the platform to ask questions or chat and talking to the peer facilitators or other interns about the future of the platform. The sustainability of the Women’s Platform is so encouraging and inspiring; to be so confident that years from now, women will continue to be taught, nourished, and empowered through this organisation.
Lows of my experience where mostly just in the beginning when I was extremely overwhelmed. The things that make me nervous or stressed in the beginning no longer bother me. I have been well supported and been given a lot of responsibility. The Women’s Platform knows how to support their interns and staff. I feel as though they truly want me to do my best work and be my best self.
My hope is that when you come to Scalabrini, you will be received with love and empathy just as everyone who walks through Scalabrini’s door always is.”
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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.”
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“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.”
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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.”
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“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.”
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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. [It involved complex processes including the cancellation of her asylum claim in South Africa, which had to undergo careful consultation.] “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.
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