Education for Liberation

gender have come to the fore. For South Africans, these challenges have come in the context of the processes of democratisation that date from the transition in the early to mid-1990s. For many years, the oppressed people in South Africa have been recipients of solidarity from many peoples and organisations around the world. The peoples and governments of Southern Africa occupy a special place in this solidarity movement. Part of the cost of the transition is being borne by the peoples of the region, and we have a moral and political responsibility to respond to their need for solidarity. On the other hand, it is now increasingly clear that the challenges of democratisation and development in South Africa cannot be met without cooperation and solidarity across boarders. The people of South Africa are themselves in need of solidarity from the peoples of the region and the world.

The people of South Africa have risen to the challenges of democratisation by setting up a number of institutions that deal with human rights and gender issues. These institutions, however, are limited by their legal jurisdiction in taking up these issues beyond our borders. A Solidarity Centre seeks to fill this gap.

The primary aims of the Southern Africa and Solidarity Centre are:

1. To facilitate the building of links between various social movements, community based organisations, non-governmental organisation, trade unions and advocacy groups in the Southern African region.
2. To facilitate debate, discussion and dialogue among South Africans – in particular the social movements and civil society organisations – on the growing problem of xenophobia in South Africa.
3. To conduct research on, and monitor, various aspects of the process of regional integration, and the impact of globalisation on the region.
4. To initiate, and participate in, advocacy and campaigns within South Africa on issues relevant to regional solidarity.
5. To raise the level of understanding - among the South African public – about regional issues and concerns.

Activities of the Centre

The Southern Africa and Solidarity Centre will be engaged in four core activities. These are:

1. Education and training workshops and seminars
2. Research
3. Publications and Publicity, and
4. Campaigns and Advocacy

These four core activities will be organised into a number of projects, and these will be used to realise the outcomes of projects. These projects are:

1. A Migration and Xenophobia project

The primary work of this project will involve promoting discussion and dialogue on xenophobia within the various civil society organisations and social movements in South Africa. This will be backed up research on migration in the region, and in particular into South Africa.

The programme will build links with immigrant communities in South Africa, and will raise awareness about important issues facing these communities in South Africa. These issues include access to education for the young, and access to health and other social amenities.

1. A Corporate Watch programme

The primary work of this project will be to monitor the activities of various South Africa corporations on the African continent, and in the region in particular. Since the democratic transition, and in part due to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), there has been increased activity by South African corporations in Africa. As part of promoting solidarity across borders, on the one hand, and contributing to South Africa’s responsibilities towards Africa’s development, on the other, this programme will monitor the activities of these corporations, their labour relations record, their human rights records and their general contribution to social and economic upliftment of the continents’ peoples. The results of the work of this project will facilitate solidarity work among social movements on the African continent and beyond.

1. A globalisation and regional integration monitor

The primary work of this project is to make research on the processes of regional integration and globalisation accessible to social movements and other civil society organisations. This will include research conducted by Khanya College and by other organisations. This research will strengthen the strategic decision-making processes within social movements and civil society organisations, and heighten their consciousness about regional issues. This project will involve research, education and publication on the impact of regional integration on the peoples of the region.

1. A Solidarity Across Borders project

The primary work of this programme is to facilitate links and solidarity between South African social movements and civil society organisations, on the one hand, and their counterparts in the region, on the other. This will involve bringing together movements that deal with similar issues – for example the environment – across Southern African borders in seminars, exchange programmes, the Winter School, and conferences. Out of these encounters publications, joint programmes and common campaigns will arise.

Throughout the implementation of these projects the College will seek to cooperate with social movements, other NGOs and research institutions that are engaged in work on Southern Africa.