Africa: Africa in Oxford
Oxford African Refugees and Families Development Community (OARFDC) is a developing not-for-profit group with a main focus on supporting refugees and Asylum Seekers based in Oxford. The group has produced a bilingual (English/French) newsletter called Africa in Oxford. The aim of this newsletter is to provide practical advice, information and support for refugees and Asylum Seekers and to help them become useful members of their new community in Oxford.
Africa in Oxford
Oxford African Refugees and Families Development Community (OARFDC) is a developing not-for-profit group with a main focus on supporting refugees and Asylum Seekers based in Oxford.
It’s committed to serving movements that aspire to social change and promote human rights. The group has produced a bilingual (English/French) newsletter called Africa in Oxford. The aim of this newsletter is to provide practical advice, information and support for refugees and Asylum Seekers and to help them become useful members of their new community in Oxford.
It provides a voice for refugees and Asylum Seekers primarily but not exclusively. It’s also a voice in political debate in Africa, current affairs, with music and sports. Others Africans will also find the newsletter useful and interesting particularly those who have French as a first language, because there are few French language resources available in Oxford. Over time the newsletter will help to break down prejudice and barriers within the community and help everyone to understand each other. The group is planning to release this newsletter on monthly basis.
Up till now there has been no such thing as a communication medium specifically for Africans in Oxford.
The Chair of OARFDC, Joseph Bitala-Bitemo, a high qualified and experienced individual in journalism, has background that includes copywriting, communication skills, broadcasting and direct managing He arrived in Oxford seven years ago as a refugee from Congo Brazzaville. Now that he has settled in Oxford, he wants to give something back to his community, and to help other people who are trying to rebuild their lives in Oxford.
Joseph Bitala-Bitemo said: “This will enable us to make an enormous difference to our community in Oxford. We are very grateful for the great deal of encouragement we have received from many people in the wider community, as well as from other journalists in Oxford and the In Design training from highly skilled editors and designers Peter Mac InTyre and Alan Huges.