The events of the past week in South Africa, with the removal of President Mbeki, have led me to reflect on my trip to Southern Africa earlier this summer with Action for Southern Africa. Here comes that famous post-trip cliché…..the trip, for student and youth leaders from the UK, seriously changed my life. Cliché - maybe, but its true.

The thing that was most striking about South Africa was the vibrant civic society. The campaigning organisations I met were dynamic and invigorating, determined to see justice and equality for their people. Throughout the trip I met more and more remarkable people, each contributing and fighting to see a fairer and more equal global society.

And whilst great progress was evident, it was apparent how much was still left to do. I want NUS to play its own small role in campaigning for the change that people in Southern Africa want to see. I am looking forward to working with ACTSA(Action for Southern Africa) to raise awareness and lobby for change on the issues that the groups we met asked us to take forward: education, HIV/AIDS, sanitation, civil liberties and trade justice.

I have pledged to do a number of things in the coming months. From the very simple thing of donating £42 to the Children of Swaziland, to fund education for one child for a yr in Swaziland, to organising delegations for our student union partners in Zimbabwe and Swaziland.

But together we must do more. Please join me in helping our partners in Southern Africa and beyond. Below is a list of simple things you can do to help to improve lives for people in Southern Africa:

1. Join ACTSA: membership forms and details can be found by clicking the link above.
2. Stand Up and Take Action on poverty on the 17th-19th October.
3. Campaign to stop EPA’s. Economic Partnership Agreements set by the European Commission harm the lives of Southern Africans by placing unfair trade deals on developing countries. Write to your MEP about this issue. Find out more.
4. Buy a copy of the film Fezeka’s Voice and organise a showing. Proceeds from the film will fund scholarships for children in S.Africa.
5. Look out for information on the Society and Citizenship page at www.nus.org.uk to see how you can help our campaigns in this area.

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