- Program Civil Society
- Program Area Increasing Access to Justice
- Grant Amount $100,000
- Grant Period September 1, 2012–December 31, 2014
- Location West Porgies, South Africa
- Geographic Focus South Africa
About this grant
The Rural Legal Trust was established in 2000 to provide legal services to farm dwellers and the rural poor in South Africa whose rights were being violated. It seeks to foster collaboration between communities and the government through dialogue and improved engagements. It works with other nonprofits in rendering its services, including advice offices that serve farming communities. This grant will support the grantee to train and mentor community-based paralegals that work in advice offices on various aspects of the law and on topics related to the provision of basic services to poor people. The topics that will be covered include fundraising, mediation, opening files for clients, and procedures to follow when dealing with the eviction of people from farms. Other activities will include establishing a research unit and publishing regularly on issues that affect the communities served, and conducting awareness-raising workshops in rural areas related to the provision of basic services and people’s rights and responsibilities.