From learning to self-reliance: Refugee woman in South Africa turns skills into livelihood, trains others on the same

Standing in front of a group of women inside Saint Patrick Catholic Church in southern Johannesburg, South Africa, Deborah Muanza carefully measures and mixes ingredients to make pine gel, a household cleaning product.

Around her, the refugee women watch closely. Some take notes, while others listen carefully as she explains the process step by step. Later, Deborah moves on to another product, showing them how to blend spices in different flavours.

Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Deborah is a refugee living in South Africa. The skills she is demonstrating have become useful in her own home, allowing her to make products she would otherwise have to buy.

“I am using these products myself and I am also selling them to people around me,” she explains. “For me, it is a change because I am already saving money. Instead of spending that money at the shops, I can keep it and use it for something else.”

Now she is passing those skills on.

“We decided to give skills to people instead of giving money,” Deborah explains. “If we give someone a skill, they can generate money from that skill.”

As UNHCR marks its 75th anniversary and advances its 50by35 vision to increase refugee self-reliance by 2035, community-led livelihood initiatives remain a key part of helping forcibly displaced people rebuild their lives and contribute to the communities that host them.

That idea is at the heart of Inter-Help Women Empowerment (IWE), a refugee-led organisation in Johannesburg that uses practical skills training to help women become more self-reliant.

While led by refugees, IWE’s doors are open to all women. Its programmes bring together South African, refugee and migrant women from different nationalities to learn alongside one another, share experiences and build connections. For the organisation, empowerment is also a way of strengthening social cohesion between communities.

That spirit of inclusion was reflected during the UNHCR-supported Women’s Month session in August, where women from different African countries came together to learn practical skills, including making household products and spices, financial inclusion, branding and digital marketing.

The gathering also honoured the legacy of the women who led the historic 1956 march against apartheid pass laws, while celebrating the resilience, leadership and contributions of women today.

Francine Ngomba Kalala of Inter-Help Women Empowerment says she has already witnessed changes among women who have participated in the organization's activities.

“Women are the backbone of families and communities,” she says. Yet the organization's ambitions are bigger than its current capacity. Francine says more women are waiting for an opportunity to participate, while IWE hopes eventually to establish a dedicated empowerment centre where women can register, receive training and develop their businesses.

The organisation is also working towards the registration and certification requirements needed to expand the production of some of its products commercially. IWE says participants are taught safety precautions when handling chemicals and advised about the regulatory requirements they would need to meet should they wish to expand into commercial production.

Despite these positive developments, many refugee women entrepreneurs in South Africa continue to face significant challenges. Yasmin Rajah, Director of Refugee Social Services (RSS), says funding constraints and anti-migrant sentiment have made it increasingly difficult for many to earn a living.

“We are grateful for the support provided by UNHCR, including the Makro vouchers, which have helped many refugee women sustain their small businesses and support their families during a very difficult time,” Rajah says. “While this assistance has made a meaningful difference, continued support is needed to help women rebuild their lives, strengthen their livelihoods and move towards self-reliance.”

Zhihui Yang, Associate Community-Based Protection Officer at UNHCR's Southern Africa Multi-Country Office, acknowledged that many refugees have the skills, determination and business ideas needed to become self-reliant, but often lack access to the opportunities, resources and support needed to turn those ideas into sustainable livelihoods.

“Sessions like this can help share the skills and knowledge they need, including information on the procedures they may need to follow to start a business. From there, they can make a positive contribution to their communities and to South Africa's economy.” he adds.

Back at the church, Deborah is already showing what that can look like on a smaller scale.

The products in her hands are things she once had to buy. Now she can make them herself and teach other women, including her South African friends, how to do the same.