Talisha Mpoyiya

What an adventure it was! Although I was very nervous to speak in front of a crowd, being able to present my love of South Africa and our diversity was an amazing experience!

We attended a two-day conference with teachers from different Edmund Rice schools and did a presentation about the work that we do as Justice Desk Africa, our fight for human rights and the different project we run. I was also able to give a testimony alongside my fellow Mbokodo girl, Mieshane, which I think was powerful for the teachers to hear.

We then visited around ten schools presenting and advising students and teachers on how impactful and important doing justice work is. It was incredible how the schools embraced our training: engaging in the activities and throwing themselves into campaign planning.

The love we received made me feel like I belonged, and it made me forget that we were in a different country. The Edmund Rice Network Office made me feel safe, worthy, and that our stories were important. Thank you for making us feel that way!

The trip made me realise the importance of getting to know a person for who they are, and the impact we can have on the lives of those around us. I also learnt that many people want to make a difference, but not everyone knows how, and so it was amazing to have us come together as South Africans and British people to share our experiences and inspire each other to fight for what is right. My main message to the students was not to worry, not to rush, and not to put too much pressure on themselves – because it is true that justice work can be hard and can take many years to accomplish, but our power is with each other, and if we come together, we will definitely make it to the finish line.