- Program Civil Society
- Program Area Increasing Access to Justice
- Grant Amount $150,000
- Grant Period September 1, 2013–August 31, 2015
- Location Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Geographic Focus South Africa
About this grant
The Centre for Rural Legal Studies works to protect and promote the rights of farmworkers and their families in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Past achievements include assisting paralegals working in community-based advice offices to effectively represent clients on labor-related matters, the majority of whom do not have access to basic labor rights and due process. The grantee trained paralegals on various areas including Alternative Dispute Resolution, labor legislation, action research methodologies, and basic office administration. It also offered hands-on support and mentoring to paralegals to ensure that the training was implemented properly. Over the next two years, the grantee will assist with the establishment and strengthening of farm and rural community-based organizations in the central Karoo region of the Western Cape province to enable them to assist poor people to realize their rights. It will also continue to support community advice offices, conduct research and advocacy, and provide backup legal services to people on farms.