From 23 - 25 February 2025, the Global Health Solidarity Project , the Southern African Rural Women's Assembly (RWA) and UCT EthicsLab co-hosted an immersive summer school titled, "Solidarity: Embodied and Enacted".
The school gathered at the Bertha Retreat in Boschendal where RWA representatives from nine African countries - including Namibia, Lesotho, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Eswatini - shared their experiences and insights on solidarity. The depth of situated knowledge and context specific solidarity narratives enabled a dynamic discussions and deep enquiry into solidarity.
The school explored solidarity in multiple dimensions: as lived experience, as political, as collective action against injustice, as transformative and emancipatory. Guest speakers included Nozizwe Madlala Routledge, Jaamia Galant, Mercia Andrews and Denia Jansen, who examined solidarity in movements ranging from anti-apartheid struggles to Palestine and farm workers' struggles. Colleagues from the Global Health Solidarity Project - Caesar Atuire, Barbara Prainsack, Ashish Giri and Jantina De Vries - shared accounts of solidarity from different parts of the world. Suzall Timm and Heidi Matisonn, offered insights from external viewpoints, while Lauren Paremoer, whose work focuses on solidarity, its making and unmaking, in health governance and social movements, provided conceptual and context-specific analysis in the process. The school was anchored, conceptualised and convened by Donna Andrews.
Drawing upon a radical feminist orientation and dialogical methodology, participants engaged in detailed country-specific case studies through group discussions, and reflective activities to express and explore solidarity. The methodology fostered both intimate connections and visceral expression of the power of solidarity. The school culminated in explorations on RWAs seed research journey in the region and how their agency is made tangible through acts of solidarity. The school highlighted that solidarity is a political act. More specifically, the narratives and case studies reinforced that solidarity is embodied and enacted.
We wanted to share a brief glimpse of the school with you through the photo gallery. In the coming weeks, as we take time to reflect on the experience - both individually and collectively - we will share more. As we departed from the school it was palpable and clear that solidarity is deep, transformative and emancipatory.
Written By Donna Andrews.
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