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Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) South Africa is creating a mural on one of Johannesburg’s landmark walls to spread the word about the plight African foreign nationals fleeing their homelands for South Africa.

From the Press Release: “This commemorative mural is the conclusion of a dynamic and thought provoking MSF South Africa exhibition, titled Solidarity for Survival, which focuses attention on the situation facing thousands of people who survive displacement and migration; and come to South Africa where they face discrimination and xenophobia. Solidarity for Survival (Constitution Hill, 7 April-14 May) highlights the vulnerability of African foreign nationals in South Africa, probing the reasons for people leaving their countries of origin, with a focus on five countries where MSF operates in sub-Saharan Africa: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The exhibit seeks to provoke debate and to inspire solidarity with people most vulnerable who struggle to access medical care and face a denial of dignity. To commemorate the exhibit and to reach out to South Africans on street level in Johannesburg MSF undertakes the mural painting on The Star’s graffiti wall [corner of Empire Rd and Jan Smuts Avenue, Parktown] in partnership with Parktown Boys High School, who owns the wall. Parktown Boys High School affirms its commitment to the concerns around the plight of survival migrants facing xenophobia in South Africa. It is in this spirit that Parktown Boys High School has generously provided use of the wall free of charge to MSF for two months. The graffiti wall is situated at one busiest intersections in Johannesburg and is regarded as one of the most prominent outdoor communication spaces in South African, often sparking debate and getting the people of Johannesburg talking. MURAL PAINTING EVENT DETAILS:Date: WEDNESDAY 11 MAY from 10:00Location: The Star Graffiti Wall, corner of Empire Rd & Jan Smuts Ave, Parktown, Johannesburg. SOLIDARITY FOR SURVIAL EXHIBIT DETAILS:Venue: Rampart Rooms, Constitution Hill, 1 Kotze Street, Braamfontein, JohannesburgDates: 7 April to 14 May 2011 – Daily 9:00 to 17:00Visit www.solidarity4survival.org and www.msf.org.za for more Media Queries:Bridget van Oerle / Christabel ZuluBUZ Publicity 011 482 3467/3489 083 263 6991/084 5522 417FAX 086 694 4054”

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