ASC Programme: Solidarity and Transformation Agenda (STA)

	ASC Programme: Solidarity and Transformation Agenda (STA)
The STA Programme is a broader ACTION solidarity initiative. It includes the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum in South Africa and some components of: Advocacy and lobbying Networking and mobilization for action Research Objectives Support the development of clearer and adequate services provision and strong socio-economic and political partnership between communities and their respective governments in countries where there is conflict. Conduct awareness campaigns to help the South African general public and others understand better the truth about the experiences of refugees and move towards a more tolerant and welcoming approach. Organize workshops on understanding discrimination and xenophobic attitudes and developing good practices for effective management of diversity in different South African communities. Other workshop themes will revolve around understanding human rights in the context, Conflict Transformation, Civic Education and advocacy and lobbying for both South Africans and other countries on the continent. Identify counselling avenues that will help develop a clear and practical support systems that can act in a collaborative and systematic way in helping the refugees and reduce the further trauma associated with forced relocation. Lobby government to ensure that the frontline personnel especially in the department of Foreign / Home Affairs are suitable prepared and skilled in dealing with refugee problems. Establish information and operational research, in order to document and record relevant information and report appropriately to organizations and authorities, a specific management information system will be developed and regular operational research be initiated and maintained. Promote a functional partnership with other key service agencies so that resources are shared equally. Establish and coordinate an effective networking with mainstream education, health and social services to maximize the benefit for asylum seekers and refugees without necessarily depriving the South Africans of their resources. Locate lawyers of Human Rights in South Africa and identify the resources they need to represent the refugees on legal matters and possible influence reform of national policies and laws in the consideration of the plight of all refugees. Strategies Identifying and popularizing International Solidarity Days. Organizing regional workshops that bring together all nationalities for discussions on issues affecting them in South Africa and their respective countries. Other than the honouring and celebrating the World Refugee Day alone for example, we advocate and lobby for celebrating and honouring a special day for those displaced by xenophobia. Organize press briefings to popularize challenges faced by people in the region including for example Sudan, Somalia and DRC. Liaise with the Department of Health, Social Welfare, Home Affairs and other bodies, where possible, that they put more effort in attending to issues that relates to medication, food, shelter, and asylum papers for refugees and asylum seekers. Organize workshops on understanding discrimination and xenophobic attitudes and developing good practices for effective management of diversity, understanding human rights. Establish a strong research and surveillance mechanism team to overseer issues involving asylum applications, access to basic services such as housing, legal issue, food, education and other services. To organize campaigns and rallies to disseminate relevant information to the South African public on the relationship between the refugees and the South African ever increasing poverty levels and economic inequalities and promoting a non-discriminatory society in South Africa. Organize interactive forums where different important organizations can be invited to participate, share information and ideas, hence forming the consortium that we need. Locate counselling organizations where refugees in need of such services can be introduced to and be given concrete counselling services to handle their traumas. Invite South African Legal Societies to deliberate on important laws and policy matters that are affecting refugee community in South Africa and possible ways of influencing changes over such legalities. Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum in South Africa The Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum is a network of progressive South African civil society organizations, including youth, women, labour, faith-based, human rights and student formations. The forum started in the late 1990s and was consolidated in 2004. Over the past years the network has grown rapidly in size and influence, and we say confidently that we have contributed to a much greater understanding of the crisis and challenges in Zimbabwe within our organizations and within the broader South African debate. Action for Conflict Transformation is hosting the Zimbabwe Solidarity forum for all sectors of South African civil society. The forum brings together representatives of labour, the churches, youth and students, as well as several active and concerned NGOs. This forum is recognized as a central coordinating hub of South African civil society activities on Zimbabwe. It also has a Google group that has more 350 active members who share information and receive updates on the Zimbabwe crisis. The objectives of the forum are four fold: To share perceptions and insights into the dynamic Zimbabwean context. To share information and initiatives aimed at influencing the situation in Zimbabwe and seek areas of synergy and complementarity. To expose civil society to the latest information from key opinion leaders around the crisis in Zimbabwe. To serve as a platform for fostering regional and national solidarity with the struggles for Human Rights, Justice and Peace emanating from Zimbabwe. ZSF-SA Partners ZSF actions have been implemented with the active participation and leadership of the following organisations: COSATU, SATAWU, SACP, SANGOCO, YCL, SACC, IDASA, PACT Christian Alliance, ZCTU National Constitutional Assembly, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Zimbabwe Action Movement, Zimbabwe Youth Network, Progressive Youth Alliance, The Anti-Xenophobia Coalition, The Social Movements Indaba, The Anti-Privatisation Forum, Phaphama, PDP, CSVR, Peace and Development Platform, Khanya, Creative Writers Arts Workshop, Exiled Journalist Association, Revolutionary Youth Movement, Zimbabwe CSO Forum, SALO, SAWIMA, Uhuru Network, Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee, Southern African Centre for the Survivors of Torture, Youth in Zimbabwe, Swaziland Solidarity Network, NALEDI, MDC, Central Methodist Church, Coalition for Peace in Africa, IANSA, ACTION, COSAS, SASCO, Centre for Civil Society and Magamba.

ASC Programme:
Solidarity and Transformation Agenda (STA)

The STA Programme is a broader ACTION solidarity initiative. It includes the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum in South Africa and some components of:

Advocacy and lobbying
Networking and mobilization for action
Research

Objectives

Support the development of clearer and adequate services provision and strong socio-economic and political partnership between communities and their respective governments in countries where there is conflict.
Conduct awareness campaigns to help the South African general public and others understand better the truth about the experiences of refugees and move towards a more tolerant and welcoming approach.
Organize workshops on understanding discrimination and xenophobic attitudes and developing good practices for effective management of diversity in different South African communities.
Other workshop themes will revolve around understanding human rights in the context, Conflict Transformation, Civic Education and advocacy and lobbying for both South Africans and other countries on the continent.
Identify counselling avenues that will help develop a clear and practical support systems that can act in a collaborative and systematic way in helping the refugees and reduce the further trauma associated with forced relocation.
Lobby government to ensure that the frontline personnel especially in the department of Foreign / Home Affairs are suitable prepared and skilled in dealing with refugee problems.
Establish information and operational research, in order to document and record relevant information and report appropriately to organizations and authorities, a specific management information system will be developed and regular operational research be initiated and maintained.
Promote a functional partnership with other key service agencies so that resources are shared equally.
Establish and coordinate an effective networking with mainstream education, health and social services to maximize the benefit for asylum seekers and refugees without necessarily depriving the South Africans of their resources.
Locate lawyers of Human Rights in South Africa and identify the resources they need to represent the refugees on legal matters and possible influence reform of national policies and laws in the consideration of the plight of all refugees.

Strategies

Identifying and popularizing International Solidarity Days.
Organizing regional workshops that bring together all nationalities for discussions on issues affecting them in South Africa and their respective countries.
Other than the honouring and celebrating the World Refugee Day alone for example, we advocate and lobby for celebrating and honouring a special day for those displaced by xenophobia.
Organize press briefings to popularize challenges faced by people in the region including for example Sudan, Somalia and DRC.
Liaise with the Department of Health, Social Welfare, Home Affairs and other bodies, where possible, that they put more effort in attending to issues that relates to medication, food, shelter, and asylum papers for refugees and asylum seekers.
Organize workshops on understanding discrimination and xenophobic attitudes and developing good practices for effective management of diversity, understanding human rights.
Establish a strong research and surveillance mechanism team to overseer issues involving asylum applications, access to basic services such as housing, legal issue, food, education and other services.
To organize campaigns and rallies to disseminate relevant information to the South African public on the relationship between the refugees and the South African ever increasing poverty levels and economic inequalities and promoting a non-discriminatory society in South Africa.
Organize interactive forums where different important organizations can be invited to participate, share information and ideas, hence forming the consortium that we need.
Locate counselling organizations where refugees in need of such services can be introduced to and be given concrete counselling services to handle their traumas.
Invite South African Legal Societies to deliberate on important laws and policy matters that are affecting refugee community in South Africa and possible ways of influencing changes over such legalities.

Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum in South Africa

The Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum is a network of progressive South African civil society organizations, including youth, women, labour, faith-based, human rights and student formations. The forum started in the late 1990s and was consolidated in 2004. Over the past years the network has grown rapidly in size and influence, and we say confidently that we have contributed to a much greater understanding of the crisis and challenges in Zimbabwe within our organizations and within the broader South African debate.

Action for Conflict Transformation is hosting the Zimbabwe Solidarity forum for all sectors of South African civil society. The forum brings together representatives of labour, the churches, youth and students, as well as several active and concerned NGOs. This forum is recognized as a central coordinating hub of South African civil society activities on Zimbabwe. It also has a Google group that has more 350 active members who share information and receive updates on the Zimbabwe crisis.

The objectives of the forum are four fold:

To share perceptions and insights into the dynamic Zimbabwean context.
To share information and initiatives aimed at influencing the situation in Zimbabwe and seek areas of synergy and complementarity.
To expose civil society to the latest information from key opinion leaders around the crisis in Zimbabwe.
To serve as a platform for fostering regional and national solidarity with the struggles for Human Rights, Justice and Peace emanating from Zimbabwe.

ZSF-SA Partners

ZSF actions have been implemented with the active participation and leadership of the following organisations: COSATU, SATAWU, SACP, SANGOCO, YCL, SACC, IDASA, PACT Christian Alliance, ZCTU National Constitutional Assembly, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Zimbabwe Action Movement, Zimbabwe Youth Network, Progressive Youth Alliance, The Anti-Xenophobia Coalition, The Social Movements Indaba, The Anti-Privatisation Forum, Phaphama, PDP, CSVR, Peace and Development Platform, Khanya, Creative Writers Arts Workshop, Exiled Journalist Association, Revolutionary Youth Movement, Zimbabwe CSO Forum, SALO, SAWIMA, Uhuru Network, Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee, Southern African Centre for the Survivors of Torture, Youth in Zimbabwe, Swaziland Solidarity Network, NALEDI, MDC, Central Methodist Church, Coalition for Peace in Africa, IANSA, ACTION, COSAS, SASCO, Centre for Civil Society and Magamba.