- Aisha Hamdulay
- IRELAND: Kader Asmal Fellowship
- University College Dublin, 2019-2020
The Kader Asmal Fellowship was an invaluable experience in terms of personal, professional and academic growth. Covid-19 has impacted our country in so many ways, and as a young person I hope to get into spaces where I can pay it forward by becoming involved in contributing to the need for transformation in South Africa, especially regarding land, and socio-economic justice.
I felt a connection with Ireland because of the similarities with our histories, and Ireland’s support in ending Apartheid. If I can share a message with aspiring fellows and students, it is that you are your own greatest enemy as well as greatest motivator. Focus on motivating yourself. And as gloomy as things may look in our country at times, remember what we have to celebrate about it as well.
Aisha Hamdulay is a 2019/20 Kader Asmal Fellow, and completed her MSc at the University College Dublin in the Humanitarian Action, Conflict and Development program. Her research interests are transitional justice, human rights and land rights, and her Master's thesis looked at the long-term impact of South Africa’s transitional justice processes on the rule of law in relation to land rights. She has also been published in the Southern California International Review Journal of 2019. Prior to her Masters, she has worked in civil society in South Africa for 3 years in the areas of urban land justice and women’s rights. She is also a passionate creative, and has pursued photography professionally for the last 8 years, as well as embarking on social justice related projects. In the near future, she hopes to continue working in development and human rights in both the international and South African contexts, hoping to use her skills and experience to drive needed change in the country.
