PortfolioAfrica Unite is a human rights and youth empowerment organisation that works with citizens, refugees and migrants to prevent conflicts, enhance social cohesion and promote socio-economic development. It was formed in 2001 in response to violence against asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in New Cross Roads, in Nyanga a sprawling, impoverished, predominantly black townships on the outskirts of Cape Town in the Western Cape. Initially part of IDASA (the Institute for Democracy in South Africa) AU became an autonomous, registered organisation in 2004.Underpinned by its organisation slogan, “Building Human Rights communities” AU programmatic focus is on building the knowledge and skills of Human Rights Peer Educators, facilitating reciprocal learning exchanges with communitybased and migrant led structures, and creating a platform for intercultural exchange and dialogue between local, refugee and migrant communities in South Africa. Towards the fulfillment of these goals, AU has consistently sought to build partnerships with likeminded organizations committed to using rights based participatory strategies as a means of building peaceful, sustainable communities.
Intern | Volunteer work Description
Africa Unite takes on interns from around the world, depending on their university requirements, interests and skills they will be involved in one or several of the following areas:
- Human rights peer education
- Business Development
- Capacity development
- Social dialogues
- Advocacy
- Psychosocial counseling
- HR and training development of skills development projects in the townships
Interns also focus on assisting with the implementing of a variety of Business Procedures as well as educational and practical programmes that help prepare youth to face the challenges of living in South Africa while also being agents of change within communities themselves.