Jean-Louise Olivier: Advocacy Volunteer
[kc_row use_container=”yes” force=”no” column_align=”middle” video_mute=”no” _id=”931607″][kc_column width=”12/12″ video_mute=”no” _id=”410838″][kc_column_text css_custom=”{`kc-css`:{`any`:{`box`:{`padding|`:`20px inherit inherit inherit`}}}}” _id=”314107″]
Hear from Jean-Louise, one of our current Advocacy volunteers, about how her experience is going!
“I was born in South Africa, but I grew up and studied in Australia. I studied development studies, with a focus on refugees, asylum seekers, and gender equality. I did a semester exchange at UCT and I wanted to come back to Cape Town after so I did a lot of research and found Scalabrini, and I applied to be an advocacy intern.
[/kc_column_text][/kc_column][/kc_row][kc_row _id=”614086″][kc_column width=”12/12″ video_mute=”no” _id=”682654″][kc_row_inner column_align=”middle” video_mute=”no” _id=”595948″][kc_column_inner width=”44.43%” _id=”746177″][kc_single_image image_size=”full” _id=”390868″ image_source=”media_library” image=”3647″ css_custom=”{`kc-css`:{`any`:{`image-style`:{`text-align|`:`center`}}}}”][/kc_column_inner][kc_column_inner width=”55.55%” _id=”927257″][kc_column_text _id=”547282″ css_custom=”{`kc-css`:{`any`:{`box`:{`padding|`:`inherit inherit 10px inherit`}}}}”]
Tuesdays to Fridays I do client intake in the mornings – that’s my favourite part. In the afternoons, I do research, and work on press reviews or small parts of submissions, or I do client follow-ups. I’ve learned so much. My previous internships haven’t been as hands-on or as full-time – at Scalabrini, you’re constantly in it and learning.
[/kc_column_text][/kc_column_inner][/kc_row_inner][/kc_column][/kc_row][kc_row _id=”145385″][kc_column _id=”398470″][kc_column_text _id=”178165″]
I’ve gained a lot of professionalism and confidence in this field. One of my favourite moments was when one of my clients was fired and his boss was refusing to pay him. There was a court order from the Department of Labour, and so I kept pestering the boss until eventually he paid. My client phoned me and he was so happy – he was able to pay his rent and for a course that he wanted to take. I hope to keep working in the field with refugees, and with clients specifically, I don’t want to be behind a desk.”
When we asked what Jean-Louis hoped for clients at Scalabrini she said, “I hope that the clients of Scalabrini can feel included in South Africa and that they are able to identify as whatever they want to. I hope that people accept them, and they don’t exploit or harm them.
[/kc_column_text][/kc_column][/kc_row][kc_row _id=”266297″][kc_column width=”12/12″ video_mute=”no” _id=”838102″][kc_row_inner _id=”367506″ cols_gap=”{`kc-css`:{}}” css_custom=”{`kc-css`:{`any`:{`background`:{`background|`:`eyJjb2xvciI6IiNmMmYyZjIiLCJsaW5lYXJHcmFkaWVudCI6WyIiXSwiaW1hZ2UiOiJub25lIiwicG9zaXRpb24iOiIwJSAwJSIsInNpemUiOiJhdXRvIiwicmVwZWF0IjoicmVwZWF0IiwiYXR0YWNobWVudCI6InNjcm9sbCIsImFkdmFuY2VkIjowfQ==`},`box`:{`padding|`:`30px inherit 30px inherit`}}}}”][kc_column_inner width=”19.93%” _id=”710265″][kc_icon _id=”321710″ icon=”flaticon-quote” css_custom=”{`kc-css`:{`any`:{`icon-style`:{`color|i`:`#db532f`,`font-size|i`:`60px`,`text-align|`:`center`,`padding|i`:`inherit 0px inherit inherit`}}}}”][/kc_column_inner][kc_column_inner width=”80.05%” _id=”734989″][kc_column_text _id=”740984″ css_custom=”{`kc-css`:{`any`:{`typography`:{`color|,p`:`#db532f`,`font-family|,p`:`Poppins`,`font-size|,p`:`18px`,`text-align|,p`:`left`},`box`:{`margin|p`:`inherit 20px inherit 0px`}}}}”]
“Working with refugees is very rewarding. I would recommend it.”
[/kc_column_text][/kc_column_inner][/kc_row_inner][/kc_column][/kc_row]