Africa Unite (AU) is a human rights and youth empowerment organisation that works with citizens, refugees and migrants to prevent conflicts, enhance social cohesion and promote socio-economic development. It was formed in 2001 in response to violence against asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in New Cross Roads, in Nyanga a sprawling, impoverished, predominantly black townships on the outskirts of Cape Town in the Western Cape. Initially part of IDASA (the Institute for Democracy in South Africa) AU became an autonomous, registered organisation in 2004.

Underpinned by its organisation slogan, “Building Human Rights communities” AU programmatic focus is on building the knowledge and skills of Human Rights Peer Educators, facilitating reciprocal learning exchanges with community-based and migrant led structures, and creating a platform for intercultural exchange and dialogue between local, refugee and migrant communities in South Africa. Towards the fulfillment of these goals, AU has consistently sought to build partnerships with likeminded organizations committed to using rights based participatory strategies as a means of building peaceful, sustainable communities