Lucky Khambule

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Lucky Khambule
Born
South Africa
NationalitySouth African
OccupationActivist

Lucky Khambule is a South African former asylum seeker and activist in Ireland, and co-founder of the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland.

Career[]

Khambule has been living in Direct Provision since his arrival in Ireland in 2013. He was involved in organising a strike of residents of a Direct Provision centre outside Cork, protesting the restrictive rules that were enforced around eating times and access to supplies such as toiletries. The strikers took over the centre, locking the staff out for 10 days. It ended when some of the residents' demands were met.[1] In 2014, Khambule co-founded the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland which advocates for greater rights for asylum seekers and calls for the end of Direct Provision.[2][3]

Khambule was one of the central activists on the campaign to allow asylum seekers in Ireland to work.[4] The campaign led to the Irish High Court ruling that the ban on asylum seekers from working was a unconstitutional. He has since been critical of the system under which asylum seekers can access work.[5]

He has highlighted issues such as the lack of access to third level education for children in Direct Provision,[6] and the impact of residents being unable to cook their own food in centres.[7] Khambule has also spoken about the mental health implications of long term residency in Direct Provision centres,[8] and the consequences of increased over-crowding in centres.[9]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Khambule highlighted the issue of children in Direct Provision having less access to educational resources than their peers, and that they were suffering in more stringent lock down.[10] He was one of those speaking about the issues regarding social distancing and self-isolating for those living in Direct Provision during the pandemic, and the high level of confirmed cases amongst residents.[11][12]

On 6 June 2020, Khambule addressed the Black Lives Matter protest in Dublin.[13][14][15] He has spoken about the difficulty that asylum seekers, black and people of colour face in gaining employment and other opportunities due to racism in Ireland.[16]

Personal life[]

Khambule was born in South Africa. He came to Ireland in 2013 and claimed asylum, and was placed in a Direct Provision centre outside Cork.[1] He now has residency rights in Ireland.

References[]

  1. ^ a b Casey, Ruairi (23 May 2019). "In Ireland, refugees are organising to reform the asylum system". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  2. ^ O'Sullivan, Colman (5 October 2019). "Call for immediate end to direct provision". RTÉ News. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  3. ^ Pollak, Sorcha (22 November 2019). "Direct provision: What should happen next?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  4. ^ Pollak, Sorcha (5 October 2019). "Irish people should demand an end to direct provision, conference hears". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  5. ^ Pollak, Sorcha; Hilliard, Mark (16 November 2019). "Direct provision: The controversial system turns 20". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  6. ^ Fogarty, Sárán (11 November 2019). "A Direct Provision Battle With No End in Sight". www.universitytimes.ie. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  7. ^ Mullally, Una (2 April 2016). "Direct provision: creating a cultural disconnect". The Irish Times.
  8. ^ Fegan, Joyce (2 January 2019). "Living in Direct Provision: 'You begin to see yourself as someone who is not accepted by society'". www.irishexaminer.com. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  9. ^ Power, Jack (17 September 2018). "Warning that asylum seekers at risk of homelessness". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  10. ^ O'Leary, Rachel (2 June 2020). "In a 'Toxic' Direct Provision System, College Students Hit Breaking Point". www.universitytimes.ie. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  11. ^ Mahon, Brian (28 April 2020). "Kerry asylum centre has 22 coronavirus cases". The Times. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  12. ^ Malekmian, Shamim (30 April 2020). "Covid-19: Controversy Erupts in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry Over Locking In of Asylum Seekers". Hotpress. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  13. ^ "Hundreds of Black Lives Matter demonstrators protest outside US Embassy in Dublin". Breaking News. 6 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  14. ^ Woods, Killian (7 June 2020). "On the continent, life begins a guarded return to 'normal'". Business Post. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  15. ^ Mahon, Brian (3 June 2020). "Anti-racism protests to go ahead in Ireland this weekend despite Covid-19 fears". Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  16. ^ Corr, Julieanne (14 June 2020). "'Racism is a very active thing in Ireland — it's just hidden'". The Times. Retrieved 23 June 2020.

Further reading[]

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