Dear All,

I am reaching out to seek your support and nomination to represent Afrikaans speaking minorities living in squatter camps at the United Nations Human Rights Minority Fellowship Program. This fellowship offers a unique opportunity to deepen my knowledge and advocacy skills for the rights of South African minorities, especially those impacted by exclusionary policies based on racial criteria.

As the co-founder of Swiss4Afrika, a non-profit organization based in Bern, Switzerland, dedicated to supporting impoverished minority communities in South Africa, my work is rooted in addressing the challenges these communities face daily. Our organization actively supports minority, Afrikaans-speaking minorities who, due to racial policies, lack access to essential grants and social assistance. We are the only international NPO assisting these often-overlooked communities, providing essential support and advocacy on their behalf. I am also committed to preserving the Afrikaans language in schools, challenging governmental measures that would remove Afrikaans through legislation like the proposed BELA Bill.

Through this fellowship, I hope to learn more about international human rights mechanisms, particularly as they apply to linguistic, ethnic, and racial minorities. I envision applying this knowledge by empowering and educating communities on their rights, forming partnerships with other activists and NGOs, and creating strategies to advocate for equal opportunities across all South African communities. I am especially interested in learning effective methods for addressing labour market exclusion and education access, as well as eliminating racial restrictions from essential social grants.

Your nomination would help amplify our mission, allowing us to make significant strides in addressing these pressing human rights issues. I would be deeply honoured to represent you at the United Nations in support of minority communities in South Africa.

More information can be found here: Minorities Fellowship Programme | OHCHR

Thank you for considering this request. I am available to discuss further and provide any additional information that would assist in the nomination process.

Warm regards,

Randel van Heerden
Swiss4Afrika