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YOU(th) for YOU(th)

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text](YOU)th for (YOU)th is Amnesty International South Africa’s interactive activist newsletter aimed at showcasing dedicated and passionate activists in South Africa and across the globe who are doing amazing work in their respective spaces.

We thought it apt to launch this youth newsletter during youth month (June), with the view of connecting young activists and giving them a platform to communicate with each other, learn from each other and ultimately have a voice. This is where the name of the newsletter derives from.

The youth have a big part to play in the future of South Africa. Former president, Nelson Mandela said: “I admire young people who are concerned with the affairs of their community and nation perhaps because I also became involved in struggle whilst I was still at school.”

Every month the newsletter will have a new theme. We will profile a local youth activist as well as an international activist. After all, it is always good to see what others are doing. The newsletter will also include a section with relevant youth opportunities to empower you, our readers.

Our theme for the inaugural newsletter is ‘the youth,’ to coincide with youth month which commemorates the 16 June 1976 Soweto Uprising which saw thousands of black students take to the streets in protest against the apartheid government’s Bantu education system, with many of them being killed and injured by the regime.

Our featured activists this month are AISA’s very own campaigns intern, Alwande Khumalo, and Lebanon based youth activist, Farah Baba.

Also have a look at our youth webinar which was held on 17 June, discussing whether the youth are ready to lead.

This youth month, Amnesty International South Africa (AISA) put the focus on education and leadership. Unfortunately there are still stark inequalities present in South Africa’s education system and so we are calling on the government to prioritise fixing this so that the youth have a chance at a better future.

(Read our full Youth Day statement here)

We hope that you enjoy the first edition of our youth newsletter. If you or anyone you know would like to be featured in the newsletter, please send us a one pager telling us about yourself to aisayouthnews@gmail.com and who knows, you could be featured in the next (YOU)th for (YOU)th.

We look forward to hearing from you![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1624355571372{background-color: #ffff00 !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”large-heading”]

FEATURED LOCAL ACTIVIST

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ALWANDE KHUMALO

Amnesty International South Africa campaigns intern

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Alwande Khumalo is part of Amnesty International South Africa’s team where she works as a campaigns intern.

The 23-year-old, from Johannesburg, has an impressive CV already. Alwande holds a Political Studies Honours degree from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Alwande is a South African youth representative of Amnesty International’s Youth Collective: Youth Policy Action! Network, a former co-chairperson at Amnesty International Wits, a former women’s subcommittee head of Amnesty International Wits, a youth leader at the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, a member of the SA Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) youth policy committee’s gender working group, and a 2020 youth representative for SAIIA at this years United Nations multi-stakeholder hearings on “Accelerating the realization of gender equity and the empowerment of all women and girls” which forms a part of the annual UN Women’s Conference.

Alwande describes herself as a “hopeful human being”.

“I am hopeful in humanity and our ability to create a fairer world for us all and believe in the power of people-power and other action-orientated advocacy,” she says.

Alwande says her first form of activism that she can remember, was when she was in Grade 4 when she heard a boy speaking in a demeaning and derogatory manner about her older sister who was in Grade 7 at the time.

“Little Grade 4 me went up to him and said that he must take back what he said and apologize for it. He refused. I asked again. He refused and so I kicked him in the male genitalia and he of course apologised.

Of course, I was super proud of teaching that boy a thing or two but as my mom soon explained (while trying to hide back her big smile) she was not proud of the violence but proud of my bravery in sticking up for my sister and fighting against sexism. That was the day that I learnt that I was not just a feminist but an activist, but I am proud to say that I am a proud, non-violent radical feminist that promises to interrupt human rights violations and to create a fairer world,” Alwande says.

So what is Alwande passionate about? [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”4296″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1624351635750{padding-top: 10px !important;}”][ucaddon_uc_material_social_icons uc_items_data=”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”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1624430144550{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]“I am currently most passionate about fighting against gender-based violence, police brutality and excessive use of force and for Black lives to matter,” she says.

“Given our current political contexts and all the current ills, I think we have been forced to face these issues so much from being involved in planning protests and clamming down on the rights that are enshrined in our constitution – the very rule of law that they consistently abuse. I also believe that we can do better and bluntly put, I believe that it is pathetic that we are not.”

Alwande believes that every person can decide to make ethical choices to live in a better world.

One of her favourite sayings is: “One needs to be loud about things that are important to them.” This was something her mother would say to her since she was a young girl while putting her to bed.

“We would not read any bedtime stories, we would chat about our days, my new boyfriends, my friends and she would kiss me good night and say ‘remember to make your voice heard, whenever and wherever you want to say something’.

“I am loud. I am loud and proud of all things that are close to my heart and I believe that one ought to be loud and action oriented about things vital to them. For me, a lot of those things are human rights,” Alwande says.

“I believe in being loud (for action) about what is important to you and loudly and disruptively interrupting injustices so that justice can prevail, no matter the size.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1623267290251{background-color: #ffff00 !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”large-heading”]

FEATURED INTERNATIONAL ACTIVIST

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FARAH BABA

Advocacy and communication officer at the Anti-Racism Movement (ARM)

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Twenty-five year old Farah Baba is a young activist living and working in Lebanon where she advocates for the rights of migrant domestic workers.

Farah works as the advocacy and communication officer at the Anti-Racism Movement (ARM), a grassroots organization working with migrant workers in Lebanon. She works on campaigns with the advocacy team and alongside migrant domestic workers to organize against the Kafala (sponsorship) system that “enables their abuse and mistreatment”, she says.

Due to the economic crisis and COVID-19, dozens of migrant domestic workers in Lebanon were fired and found themselves trapped without passports or pay; the Ministry of Labour adopted a revised, standard unified contract for migrant workers that included new protections for migrant domestic workers, including vital safeguards against forced labour, but a judicial review body suspended its implementation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1624429947487{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #ededed !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]But this is not the only activism work Farah focuses on, she is also part of feminist and youth collectives in her country, mainly organising for gender and economic justice. She is also a budding filmmaker.

“Currently I am taking film classes and will (hopefully) be making a short film on the experiences of young people trying to navigate Lebanese politics and a collapsed economy while trying to imagine a better Lebanon post-collapse and post-Kafala in particular,” Farah says.

So how was Farah introduced to the world of activism?

“I was introduced to activism and organizing around five years ago through the AUB Secular Club, a student club at the American University of Beirut where I got my BA in psychology,” she says. At the time she was a junior student who, like others, was trying to navigate an economy that was on the brink of a collapse and faced an uncertain future in Lebanon where sectarian politics was dominant in the context of constant violations of citizens and residents human rights.

Asked what she was most passionate about when it came to advocacy, Farah said she is not necessarily passionate about one specific thing, although top of the list for her are feminism, women and labour rights and anti-racism.

“As women in Lebanon, we are not granted the most basic of our rights and there are still ongoing violations despite years of activism by women. In addition, working with migrant workers has really shaped my understanding of the concept of rights and the ways in which different tools are used to segregate them, such as using racism to deprive migrants of their labor rights and justify abuse and violations,” she says.

Farah believes it is important for the youth to have a voice.

She says what the youth are living through now – the Covid-19 pandemic and the effects on the global economy – is unlike what has been experienced previously by the older generation.

“Today, much of the activism for basic human rights and dignity is being done and mobilized for by young people who are thinking of creative solutions to the many problems in our world, and much of the hope for a better future is put by older generations in the [hands of the] youth, especially since they had been sidelined from much of the policymaking in many countries when it comes to decisions affecting our lives and futures directy,” Farah says.

“Hence why it is extremely important to reclaim our voices and do something about all this.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1624430707764{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #ffff00 !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”large-heading”]

WATCH: IS THE YOUTH IN SOUTH AFRICA READY TO LEAD?

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Amnesty International South Africa (AISA) held a youth webinar this month under the theme “Is the youth in South Africa ready to lead?”.

Young people in South Africa have called on government ministers over the age of 60 to step down and allow the youth to take over. The webinar was an in-depth conversation with youth activists about how they reimagine leadership in the country and whether they think the youth is ready to lead.

Rejoyce Makhetha, AISA’s activism coordinator: organising, facilitated the discussion between Monwabisi Nhlanhla Vusumuzi Petersen, chairperson of the Amnesty Stellenbosch chapter, Lethiwe Nkosi from Youth Capital and AISA’s research intern, Cassandra Dorasamy.

Watch a recording of the webinar here ->[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/BUeVwfJyJvQ”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1623267126932{background-color: #000000 !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”large-heading”]

YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES

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CONTENT WRITER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PULSE (HRP)

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Human Rights Pulse is looking for young people – specifically students but you can also be a professional, student, academic, or just simply interested in global human rights issues – to provide content to be published on their website.

[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Get more info” style=”custom” custom_background=”#ffff00″ custom_text=”#000000″ align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.humanrightspulse.com%2Fget-involved” el_class=”amnesty-button large-heading”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text el_class=”large-heading” css=”.vc_custom_1624353608167{margin-bottom: 10px !important;}”]

AFRICAN DIVISION INTERNSHIP AT HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

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This is an opportunity for a university student intern based in the Johannesburg office. The intern will focus on the internal conflict affecting the Cabo Delgado Province in Mozambique. Ideally, the intern will be available for a minimum of 10-15 hours per week from August to December 2021.

[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Get more info” style=”custom” custom_background=”#ffff00″ custom_text=”#000000″ align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.unjobnet.org%2Fjobs%2Fdetail%2F26235265%3Futm_campaign%3Dgoogle_jobs_apply%26utm_source%3Dgoogle_jobs_apply%26utm_medium%3Dorganic|target:_blank” el_class=”amnesty-button large-heading”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text el_class=”large-heading” css=”.vc_custom_1624354704994{margin-bottom: 10px !important;}”]

MOROCCAN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR AFRICAN YOUTH

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Within the framework of the program ” Moroccan Scholarships for African Youth” the EuroMed University of Fes offers grants for doctoral studies in its two doctoral programs ‘Engineering Sciences’ and ‘Human and Social Sciences’. The scholarship consists of an exemption from registration and tuition fees.

[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Get more info” style=”custom” custom_background=”#ffff00″ custom_text=”#000000″ align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youthop.com%2Fscholarships%2Fmoroccan-scholarships-2021-for-african-youth%3Fref%3Dbrowse_page” el_class=”amnesty-button large-heading”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1623267290251{background-color: #ffff00 !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”large-heading”]

WANT TO BE PART OF THE MOVEMENT?

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Become a part of the change and support human rights. Amnesty International South Africa invites you to join the movement.

[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Become a Member Now, Click Here” style=”custom” custom_background=”#ffff00″ custom_text=”#000000″ align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Famnesty.org.za%2Fmembership-account%2Fmembership-levels%2F” el_class=”amnesty-button large-heading”][vc_btn title=”Become a Volunteer Now, Click Here” style=”custom” custom_background=”#ffff00″ custom_text=”#000000″ align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Famnesty.org.za%2Fvolunteer-sign-up%2F” el_class=”amnesty-button large-heading”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text el_class=”large-heading”]

Take Action on any of our campaigns here

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