Refugee Social Services

Refugee Social Services (RSS) is a registered non-profit organisation based in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It began as a project of the Mennonite Central Committee, known as the MCC: Refugee Project, before registering as an independent not-for-profit organisation in July 2008. Its core business is helping refugees and asylum seekers, primarily in KwaZulu-Natal Province, with services concentrated in Durban and Pietermaritzburg — the two largest cities in the province and home to the majority of refugee communities. Durban hosts the larger refugee and asylum seeker population. RSS provides a holistic package of services aimed at enhancing protection and developing the capacity of vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers to attain integration and independence. These services include orientation to refugee rights and responsibilities in South Africa, information on accessing services, casework with referrals, time-limited material assistance, psychosocial counselling, therapy and support groups, and extensive community outreach and information services covering health, education and income-generation projects. All services are designed to promote protection, self-reliance and independence. Specific services include emergency social assistance (security, food, accommodation and medical care for new arrivals and those in difficulty), professional individual and group counselling for trauma survivors, referrals to local service providers for specialised care, facilitation of access to primary and secondary education, educational support through French and English classes for refugee learners, child protection services, life skills training, and facilitation of voluntary repatriation and other durable solutions. The organisation's vision is to be a global leader in providing holistic, quality, innovative services to attain integration and independence. Its mission includes providing programmes that promote psychological well-being and socio-economic independence, working in partnership with refugees and other stakeholders through lobbying and advocacy, using research to inform programmes and policy, and developing an empowered multidisciplinary approach. RSS is based at an office in Durban and also operates from the MCC Office at Project Gateway, 4 Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg.

Refugee Social Services (RSS) originated as a project of the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), operating under the name MCC: Refugee Project. In July 2008, it registered as an independent not-for-profit organisation. Since then, RSS has been based in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and has provided social services primarily for refugees and asylum seekers in the province. Its services are concentrated in Durban and Pietermaritzburg, the two largest cities in KwaZulu-Natal, which host the majority of refugee communities. Durban has the larger refugee and asylum seeker population. The organisation continues to operate as a registered NPO, offering a holistic package of services aimed at enhancing protection and developing the capacity of vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers to attain integration and independence.

• Registered as an independent not-for-profit organisation in July 2008, after operating as the MCC: Refugee Project.

A non-profit organisation providing holistic social services to refugees and asylum seekers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, promoting protection, self-reliance and independence.

• Orientation/Info Session

  Open to new and returning refugees and asylum seekers. Monday mornings at 08:30 at the RSS Office in Durban and on Wednesdays at 10:00am at the MCC Office at Project Gateway, 4 Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg.

• Psychosocial Services

  For those who have experienced grief and trauma, family crisis, survivors of all forms of violence.

• Intake/Screening for holistic assessment

  For individual services.

• Referrals

  For specialist services i.e., hospitals, etc.

• Emergency social assistance

  Includes security, food, accommodation and medical care for new arrivals and those who find themselves in difficulty.

• Professional counselling

  Individual and group counselling for those who have experienced trauma, and/or referrals to local service providers for specialised services.

• Facilitating access to education

  Into both primary and secondary schools, and Educational Support through French and English classes for refugee learners.

• Child Protection Services

  Life Skills Training to promote self-reliance, integration and independence.

• Facilitating Voluntary repatriation and other durable solutions

1. 1Refugee Social Services – RSSrefugeesocialservices.co.za
2. 2About – Refugee Social Servicesrefugeesocialservices.co.za
3. 3About – Refugee Social Servicesrefugeesocialservices.co.za
4. 4Refugee Social Serviceswikidata.org