The Adonis Musati Project (AMP) was named after a young Zimbabwean who died of starvation on the streets of Cape Town whilst waiting to get his asylum papers. Formed in 2007, AMP exists to assist refugees who face a similar plight in Cape Town.
Asylum seekers in South Africa face incredible difficulty getting proper documentation, finding employment, shelter and food for themselves and their families. This population often slips through the cracks of government and NPO auspices. AMP’s mission is to fill this void, providing basic needs to as many asylum seekers as possible. We believe in the value of every human being and see it as a privilege to partner with these courageous men, women and children in rebuilding their lives.
Our project started by taking hot meals daily to those individuals waiting in line to receive asylum papers at the Home Affairs offices in Cape Town. The Adonis Musati Project has since expanded and acquired offices and launched various programmes to assist asylum seekers. Volunteers at our office meet daily with individuals to interview and asses their needs. We help where we can, providing them and their families with needed food, clothing, blankets, toiletries and other materials. Most asylum seekers are unfamiliar with the NPO community and don’t know where to find proper help. AMP has an active list of shelters, agencies and clinics that we contact to refer asylum seekers who need medical care, legal assistance, employment and shelter. We also take requests for repatriation, course fees, medical expenses, and small business start-ups, covering costs where we can and networking within the community for donations-in-kind.
AMP has also helped many families enrol their children in SA public schools for the 2011 school year, and provided financial assistance for school fee deposits, stationary and uniforms. We run a small bridging class for children who arrive in SA later in the year, or whose parents are unable to afford school fees. The class focuses on English and maths skills and creative activities. AMP opened a temporary shelter in September of 2009, for the most vulnerable of the asylum seeker and refugee population. We provided food, clothing, shelter, and has moved most of the residents on to independence, and placed the remaining school-aged boys on our Independent Living Skills Programme.
AMP opened a temporary shelter in September of 2009 in response to the many homeless and orphaned teenagers who crossed our path. We took in nearly 15 unaccompanied minors and either put them back in school or on vocational courses. A few older residents, mostly single mothers battling to support their children, also stayed at the shelter temporarily while they got back on their feet. In addition to sponsoring education, AMP provided full board and lodging, counselling, tutoring, medical care, social work services for all residents. We have since moved most of the residents on to independence, and have placed the remaining school-aged boys on our Independent Living Skills Programme.
Operates in: Cape Town, Western Cape
Established in: November 2007
Non-Profit Organisation Number: 068-633
Public Benefit Organisation Number:
Section 21 Company Number:
Trust Number:
Contact person: Emily Westerlund
Phone: 021 447 3656
Fax: 086 275 1211
Email:
Website: www.adonismusatiproject.org
Physical address: 83 Lower Main Road, Observatory, Cape Town
Postal address: 83 Lower Main Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925
