Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative (RSI)

An urban refugee organization

The Refugees Self-Reliance Initiative (RSI) is a humanitarian organization formed in 2002. Its base is in Dar es Salaam, but it has an international perspective whose primary objective is to include urban refugees, both legal and illegal, to meet the challenges presented by everyday life. As a humanitarian organization, it considers its work apolitical, even though refugee issues are often considered political.

The organization was created to respond to the needs of refugees living in urban areas, outside camp structures. These refugees are often compelled to leave camps due to fears for their security or for other reasons, only to find that humanitarian agencies are unable to meet their needs.

RSI relies on a collections from among the refugee community and on the meager income raised from two micro-projects (a tailoring business and a poultry farm).

RSI attempts to intervene on behalf of these refugees in the following ways:

1) Regularization of their stay

Many refugees arrive with no idea as to how to regularize their stay in their host country. Many are handicapped in navigating the various bureaucratic hurdles because they can neither read nor write, or are afraid to expose themselves to official attention. RSI helps these refugees to register with national and international institutions, and especially with their permission to stay in the towns and cities where they live. Similar assistance is offered to refugees seeking to obtain the documents necessary to allow them to travel.

2) Social assistance

Urban refugees are often in need of a number of services, for example, medical care and education for their children. Sometimes refugees are able to benefit from services offered by non-governmental organizations or churches, and at other times they are not. RSI organizes contributions to assist its members with the basic necessities.

Education has been a particular focus. According to an RSI survey done in early 2004, the organization identified about 400 urban refugee children (mostly Rwandan, Congolese and Burundian) not attending school. RSI has therefore begun to offer evening classes for these students with members with teaching experience donating their time. Due to a lack of reasources, the program has started with a group of only 25 children.

3) Development projects

RSI also uses the contributions of its members to engage in development projects, including a tailoring micro-project.

4) Trainings

RSI also carries out trainings and information sessions around various themes. It hopes to receive funding to install mission in various cities hosting urban refugees. It is also seeking funds:

• Humanitarian law
• Management of projects
• Administration and management of personnel.

Contact:

P.O. Box is 34238
Dar es Salaam
TANZANIA
Phone: Tel. +255 741 708544
Fax : +255 22 2860421
E-mail: refugee.selfreliance.initiative@gmail.com