Thursday, June 21, 2012

Art and Social Justice Workhop - 4 June 2012


On the 4 June 2012, AFH headed to Merebank Secondary to host a Art and Social Justice School Workshop.  The workshop which comprised of 26 learners had AFH facilitators guiding the learners through the workshop.  The aim of the Art and Social Justice school workshops are to advocate and educate learners about human rights and social injustice issues through art and poetry, whilst giving them the freedom imagination and creativity.  Below is the video of the School workshop.  





Video produced by Media Sea.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012


A Burundian NOMAD
By nicole hodnett


The Path he walked to the church doors when he arrived in South Africa



The Bill of Human rights states that everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected.  However, people around the world are constantly stripped of their dignity and left no choice but to flee their own countries.  

An illuminating scent of roses escape the Emmanuel Cathedral Church as the holy water lay perfectly still in the right hand corner. A man who travelled four destinations to get to South Africa, Ladislas Nduwayezu, allows us to interview him in this serene setting as he talks about his enthralling but very challenging journey to South Africa.

What is your definition of a refugee?
Ladislas giving a talk to the people of the community

It is a person who has left their homeland due to war, prosecution and in search of a better life. I left my country for all three reasons.

How many places have you had to flee to and from?

I have travelled to Zambia, Congo and Mozambique

Can you recall all your experiences?

I remember getting on a boat with my family to Zambia to escape; when we got there we were instantly swarmed by policeman asking us for bribes. We were all penniless thus being taken as slaves for a while. There were nights where I survived on as little as a plate of rice. We did however escape on a truck to the Congo. Life was hard there and I conquered all the hard times.

What was your experience like in Burundi?

There wasn’t a day where you never experience policeman shooting at you. We often hid in classrooms during school time

What was your experience like in Mozambique?

It was a beautiful place that I only got to appreciate in South Africa. If I had my way I would visit that place again

What is your job title in South Africa?

I am a French correspondent to Emmanuel Cathedral and Home affairs for foreign refugees that enter the country.

Recall your first job title in South Africa

It was as a security guard at Unisa .I found students to be very rude as they were selfish with tipping me that looked after their vehicles so well.

Were you welcomed to South Africa?

Yes, I describe him as the late, great Dennis Hurley that gave me everything I need to start my living here.

What are the basics received by Refugees when entering the country?

We give them food and clothes to keep them going. An initiative by the Dennis Hurley Pastoral Centre is to help out many people of the community as possible.

What were the first words you said to the late Dennis Hurley?

“Je miapelle, Ladislas”.This means, Hello, my name is Ladislas.

How is life for you today?

Life is good as I live with my wife and two kids very happily.
The vicinity of the Refugee Pastoral Centre

Tuesday, June 19, 2012


Dialogue among civilisations

By Nicole hodnett

An initiative by Art for Humanity to promote human rights awareness that engages in cultural production and visual arts.

Art for Humanity created a new initiative amongst artists and poets that collaborate from all over Africa .This was to create the theme of identity, land, object and belief. The aim was to publish this initiative before the 2010 world cup.

Artists express their feelings of interaction on Human rights through art work and poetry. They expressing and exploring the belief that art inspires dignity. “Everyone is a foreigner somewhere” is a perfect representation of World Refugee day and is poetry and artwork done by Jasna Corovic and Olja Ivancevic of Croatia.

According to an article published by the United Nations, the year of Dialogue among civilisations was to foster tolerance, respect and cooperation amongst people.

The United Nations designated “the year of dialogue amongst civilisations” in 2001.Three successive UN general assembly’s based a major move on relevant solutions and is promoted

The website for the foundation amongst civilisations pays special significance for the international community to open a new understanding to the chapter of dialogue.

World Refugee day is observed on June 20 honours the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children forced to flee their homeland under the threat of persecution, conflict and violence.

There will be an up and coming interview with a Burundian Refugee situated at the Cathedral in Durban.  Stay tuned!