‘Beyond Today’ is an idea that was started by a group of South Africans that want to make positive change in the country. Using the momentum of the marches to encourage people to continue making change.
This past week has seen many challenges and raised many questions we need to be asking ourselves and others. Questions like: what kind of society do we want; how can we better understand the issues that plague our society and ourselves in relation to them; how can we support and be led by the people most affected by the issues that face us; how do we genuinely show up and get involved beyond today?
There can be much to say about the problems of how this campaign against the president and corruption was organised and embraced, and we have the responsibility to try understand these critiques and do better. Yet we also choose to believe that this is a moment where we can encourage each other to begin to forge or deepen our involvement and commitment to building a socially just society.
So, out of all the questions that need to be asked and roads that need to be walked, this is an open hand offered to anyone asking the pressing question of “what we can do?”.
Daily Actions: Small ways to work towards a better South Africa
These ideas can perhaps offer something to anyone, yet they are written as ideas of how we can engage with our society and our position in it
- Accept that no matter how much we might know, there’s a lot we all still need to learn and unlearn
- Accept that we each have a responsibility to seek out learning ourselves, that authentic learning is uncomfortable, and that learning should lead to action (if not be inseparable from it)
- Challenge racism, sexism and homophobia in your own home, workplace and online – Not supporting bigotry changes nothing unless we’re actively against it as well
- At the same time, let people who are most affected by the issue lead the fight
- Engage people. Make Social Justice issues a topic at the dinner table.
- Change what you read or listen to. Start informing yourself with voices that challenge the way you think or do not look like you. So whether it’s reading blogs/books, listening to podcasts, watching movies/documentaries, start inviting people of colour, women, other faiths or thought perspectives into your life of ideas to inform you
- Volunteer. Find a group near you that is serving justice and not simply degrading charity, and volunteer some of your time, money or skills.
- Learn a South African language not English or Afrikaans. This may not be an act of anti-racism itself, yet the importance of language cannot be stated enough. Ubuntu Bridge, Xhosa Fundis, Funda Isifundo are all great groups, even apps are available. Organise to do courses with a group of friends to stay committed and make practice easier.
- If you are involved in a ZMF, SaveSA, or SA1st group or the like, work to both genuinely challenge issues of racism that can sit in some people’s engagement, and work to build holistic long-term focuses on our social problems
- Find a helpful group on places like Facebook that invites you to dialogue or listening regarding relevant issues we face today
- Actively support and learn more about the decolonized curriculum that we are working towards in primary and tertiary education.
- Create or find physical spaces to dialogue and debate these things around meals or activities where you can intentionally spend a lot of time diving deeply into these topics with a variety of people.
- Delve into the place you live, find out its history and its unexplored present.
- If you employ folks, work towards paying a living wage where possible and not merely a minimum, this translates directly into improving people’s ability to survive and advance themselves and their family.
- If you are privileged to have spare money every month, or can save, use your money to directly benefit those who have not had the privilege you have had. And commit to paying for studies, even if it is just a small course until a higher earnings gap is reached. Common Change provides a good platform for getting involved in different ways.
- ….And don’t stop, don’t do whatever is needed to make you feel good and call it a day. Keep going, keep growing, keep pushing yourself and others.
The struggles for social justice are many, and support and involvement are required by all. Find groups or campaigns in your area committed to sustained efforts against injustice that relate to your skills, interests or what should be your interests. Give a monthly donation, follow them on social media, help amplify their voices in your spaces, show up when they ask, contact and find out how to get actively involved.
To find out more about ‘Beyond Today’ view their full document here, you will be able to view organisations within your area that are working towards social change daily. You can also contact the authors if you would like to contribute information to the document.
The fight for a better South Africa doesn’t stop after today, it starts with you now!
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