WE WERE FOUNDED IN 1996 AS THE FIRST REFUGEE-LED COMMUNITY ORGANISATION IN SOUTH AFRICA
ABOUT US
The Somali Association of South Africa (SASA) was founded in 1996 as the first refugee-led community organisation in South Africa.
Today, SASA provides Advocacy and Development projects (Adult Education, Youth and Women Projects) to around 122,300 beneficiaries across the country.
SASA runs two offices (Cape Town and Pretoria) and has representatives in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), Durban, North West and Northern Cape. SASA was started to improve integration between South Africans and people who are migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers. It also aims to liaise with the South African government and civil society organisations to help the Somali community.
SASA is a founding member, and currently sits as chair, of the South African Refugee Led Network.
OUR PROGRAMMES
SASA services fall into two programmes: Advocacy and Development. Each programme manages several projects. Since 2018 the projects have recorded 18,450 beneficiaries assisted.
Advocacy runs from the SASA offices in Cape Town and Pretoria, where clients are consulted on a one-on-one basis. SASA also engages in different forms of higher-level advocacy efforts.
The Development Programme at SASA aims to upskill the refugee and migrant community, encouraging self-reliance and better integration into South African economic and social life. SASA considers education as the key for change.
OUR OPERATIONAL PARTNERS
South African Refugee Led Network
