Global Action 2008
In memory of Guy Hughes
SMK joined David and Lynda Hughes, and a group of Guy's closest friends to establish this award supporting younger campaigners, working towards global justice.
Guy Hughes
Highly intelligent and analytical, Guy studied physics at the University of East Anglia, but his interests soon turned to environmental politics and social justice. Guy became Head of Campaigns at Third World First - which later changed its name to People & Planet (P&P).
He was a founder of the Trade Justice Movement, which became a rallying point for peoples' movements across the world. In 2003, Guy established a new NGO, Crisis Action, which aims to help avert conflicts, prevent human rights abuses and ensure governments fulfil their obligations to protect civilians.
Guy is deeply missed not only by his family, partner and friends but by a generation of idealistic students, campaigners and guests at his legendary Oxford cocktail parties. He was a man of sparkling intelligence, energy and wit who knew how to make life fun as well as being determined to change the world for the better.
This award was supported by David and Lynda Hughes, Artists Project Earth (APE), BOND (British Overseas NGOs for Development) and Oxfam UK.
Winner
Juliane Heider
End the use of Immigration Detention of Children
Juliane is campaigning to stop the use of immigration detention, especially children and families at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre. As a member of a student-led initiative at the School of Oriental and African Studies working in solidarity with asylum-seekers and other migrants in detention centres, Juliane seeks to empower detainees facing deportation with skills and resources to appeal against their situation. Within the wider campaign to end immigration detention, the detention of children is a particular concern with respect to the length of time children are detained for and the fact that they are without access to adequate education or medical care. The campaign is developing an action network to bring together individuals and organisations concerned about the issues as well as focusing on individual anti-deportation campaigns.
Finalists
Onyeka Igwe
Student Action for Refugees
Onyeka has been a member of Student Action for Refugees (STAR) since she was 16 years old. She campaigns for Still Human Still Here which works to end the destitution of refused asylum seekers. Onyeka believes that during the asylum seeking process and the period that follows, people should be provided with an adequate standard of living. She is currently producing a film following the stories of asylum seekers and hopes to use this as a campaigning tool to raise awareness.
Hannah McFaull
The Howard League for Penal Reform
Hannah is campaigning to encourage university students to join the debate about penal reform as she believes that students can be a real force for change. The campaign takes the concerns of the Howard League for Penal Reform to universities throughout the UK. This has formed a network to organise events, debates and fundraisers to support the campaign. As part of the campaign, Hannah organises training days for students to raise the issues of penal reform nationwide.
Rosemary Zulu
Advocates for Action, Student's Partnership Worldwide (UK) and Empowering Street Children, Zambia
Rosemary is working on two different campaigns, one in the UK and the other in Zambia. The focus of Advocates for Action UK is to lobby the UK Government on three issues: asking decision-makers to include young people's issues in their development plans, involving young people in the decisions that affect them and promoting sexual and reproductive health rights education and services. Through Street Children's Project, Zambia, Rosemary's campaign aims to empower young people by building their confidence, self-awareness and self esteem to help them to challenge social injustice issues.
