[Office of the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town] The Anglican Church of Southern Africa is calling for youth exchange programmes between its dioceses across the region in order to combat xenophobia.

In discussions at a Provincial Planning Meeting and at an ensuing annual meeting of its Provincial Standing Committee, speakers called for Anglican churches to be seen as places of refuge for people under threat during xenophobic attacks.

One church member, Dr Paseka Ncholo of the Diocese of the Highveld, urged young people to make two trips to African countries for every one trip they make to Europe.

While South Africans were exiled during the struggle against apartheid, he said, "These countries gave us mothers and fathers."

Resolution approved by the Provincial Standing Committee

That this PSC:

1. Affirms the fact that we are all created in God's image, are part of a common humanity and have a shared identity;

2. Appreciates the role that ACSA (the Anglican Church of Southern Africa) has played in alleviating the suffering of victims of the recent xenophobic attacks;

Therefore resolves:

a) To reinforce the twinning programmes amongst South African parishes and dioceses with Southern African countries as part of strengthening historical ties and to build up the wider family of ACSA;

b) That ACSA use its advocacy initiatives to assist with the institution of a programme of engagement with the governments of Southern Africa in an effort to support initiatives to combat and to prevent xenophobic attacks in future;

c) the [Church], as part of its healing ministry and spiritual formation, initiate Exchange Programmes for the youth of Southern Africa for the purposes of community service and fellowship;

d) That each Diocese to provide feedback on progress in its Diocesan report to Synod 2016.