Human Rights Office, Projects and Progress

Communicare - Ruyterwacht

When most people are asked to picture a poverty stricken area, the image that comes to mind is usually that of a black township. The images of starving black children and black families struggling to get by are placed into our psyche by the media. This is the type of poverty that we hear about daily, however what about white poverty or the so called ‘silent poverty’ which is not so commonly heard about or discussed? From the few statistics that are becoming available, it is clear that within South Africa white poverty is increasing.

Ruyterwacht is a poverty stricken historically white area within Cape Town. The area in recent years has seen an influx of coloured people however a large proportion of the poor residents are still white.

PAHRO is currently initiating a project with Communicare who are a self help organisation dealing with the community of Ruyterwacht. We are working with Communicare’s volunteers to start a Career Clinic for the young people who feel disenfranchised from the wider community. In addition to this we are working on starting up a Legal Remedies clinic for the families who stay in this poverty stricken area and would otherwise struggle to find legal assistance.

Communicare has the necessary resources to effect change but they lack the man power to make it happen. They need assistance, which is where PAHRO volunteers can make a huge difference. Volunteers involved in this project are encouraged to help provide the organisation with professional assistance but also to support them by offering fresh ideas and creative suggestions for change.