VOA标准英语2010-South African Group Encouraging South Afr

The South African organization, the Homecoming Revolution, hosts a job fair to lure¹ London-based ex-patriots back to South Africa

Tens of thousands of South Africans have made Britain their home over the past two decades, attracted by higher wages and more job opportunities than back home. But now a South African organization, the Homecoming Revolution, dedicated² to reversing that trend, says many are being persuaded to return, partly because of Britain's economic woes³.  The non-profit group recently held an event in London to give ex-pats information on moving, jobs, housing and education in South Africa.

 

Many South Africans in Britain work as teachers, nurses, computer technicians and in other professions.

At a recent event, South African moving companies, realtors, large businesses and universities spoke⁴ to about a thousand exiles. Their aim: to persuade their countrymen and women to return home. 

The companies were brought to the event by a South African group called Homecoming Revolution.

Martine Scheffer, the group's managing director, says a significant number of South Africans are taking steps to return home. 

"The economic recession where people have lost jobs and felt under threat - don't have support systems around them - it's led people to examine what they're doing and why they're doing it and why they're living elsewhere," said Scheffer.

Some white South Africans say they left the country after apartheid ended, believing they would be at a disadvantage in the job market. Crime and social problems are also cited as reasons they sought work abroad.

Professor Nick Binedell from the University of Pretoria says, now, as some countries suffer in the global downturn, South Africa has become an attractive place to work.

"There are many opportunities in South Africa. We were not affected⁵ the way the UK and US [were] affected by the downturn - the great recession. I think South Africa is still full of opportunity for people with drive and energy," explained Professor Binedell.

Some visitors to the event have already decided⁶ to leave London.

South Africa's soccer star Aaron Mokoena lent his support to the event. South Africa will host soccer's World Cup later this year.

The Homecoming Revolution says it hopes the tournament will highlight opportunities in South Africa.

 

1 lure   

n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引

参考例句：

• Life in big cities is a lure for many country boys.大城市的生活吸引着许多乡下小伙子。
• He couldn't resist the lure of money.他不能抵制金钱的诱惑。

2 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

3 woes   

困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉

参考例句：

• Thanks for listening to my woes. 谢谢您听我诉说不幸的遭遇。
• She has cried the blues about its financial woes. 对于经济的困难她叫苦不迭。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。