Reflection of the Africa Hub Summer School 2025

Author: Madikgomo More, Participant at the 2025 Africa Hub Summer School

Towards the end of September, I attended the African Universities Hub For Human Rights 2025 Summer School Programme at the University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa. The African Universities Hub for Human Rights is a project instituted by the Politics and Urban Governance Research Group (PUG) at the University of the Western Cape. Launched in 2023, the African Universities Hub for Human Rights (AUH) supports Human Rights Defenders and African universities in their work on human rights.

Attending the Human Rights Defenders Summer School 2025 was more than just an academic experience. It was a profound journey of learning, connection, and personal transformation. Over the course of an intensive and inspiring week, I found myself immersed in a space where courage, resistance, and hope converged. The program brought together activists, scholars, journalists, and young defenders from across the African continent, each carrying powerful stories of struggle and resilience. Being part of such a dynamic and diverse community reminded me that the defence of human dignity is both a personal commitment and a collective struggle.

The summer school curriculum covered a wide spectrum of urgent human rights issues, from understanding the contexts of defending rights and the implications of global shifts in Africa. To building sustainable African human rights and democracy movements, the importance of Storytelling for Advocacy & Protection to Well-being, Resilience, and Effectiveness.

“I am reminded that change does not begin in grand gestures, but in the everyday choice to show up, speak out, and stay human.”

 

Deprose Muchena, Director of the Resources Futures in Africa initiative at the Open Society Foundations, highlighted the importance of recognising the ‘Us vs Them’ narratives in the media and in discourse, so as not to fall victim to propaganda and disinformation. What struck me the most was how interconnected these struggles are, and how the structures of power that oppress people in one region are mirrored elsewhere.

The workshop on Digital Space and Human Rights Activism particularly resonated with me, revealing not just Digital Tools available for defenders, but also tools we can use to mobilize resources and to build sustainable movements. Most importantly, the ethical complexities we navigate when working within imperfect systems. The session ignited a deeper sense of responsibility and a call to action from me. Equally powerful was the community we formed. Despite our varied backgrounds and lived experiences, there was an unspoken bond between us – the recognition that we were all part of a community of resistance. The conversations over breakfast at the hotel and the shared silence in moments of heavy storytelling were just as transformative as the lectures themselves.

Overall, this experience has challenged me to re-imagine what solidarity looks like in action, and how I can more ethically and effectively contribute to the work of justice. It also forced me to confront my own privilege, my fears, and my blind spots. I left the summer school with a deeper commitment to walking alongside others in the fight for human rights. As I return to my own context, I carry with me stories, tools, and spirits of those I met. I am reminded that change does not begin in grand gestures, but in the everyday choice to show up, speak out, and stay human. The summer school may have ended, but its lessons will continue to shape the path I walk. May our WhatsApp group be a platform for us to build meaningful alliances across our movements and borders. And to stay connected.

Read more about the Africa Hub Summer School here.