Marching on in the war to beat poverty

Published on Monday 3 July 2006 10:57

THEY came from all over the world to form a living white band around Edinburgh city centre in the largest public protest ever held in Scotland.

Thousands camped in specially-built enclosures, and on the day they took to the city streets it was estimated that more than 200,000 people had taken part in the Make Poverty History march.

The Meadows became a sea of white as the crowds were addressed by film stars, ministers, pop performers, newsreaders and, most importantly, native Africans who had seen the devastating effect of the continent's crushing poverty first hand.

It was all to put pressure on the leaders at the G8 summit in Gleneagles, to encourage them to end Africa's debt burden, to give more aid and open up trade.

But a year after the white band broke up, what is the march's lasting legacy? There is growing concern that the promises made are not going to be met.

The movement's driving force, Bob Geldof, has urged the leaders of the world's richest nations not to forget their promises, and in Edinburgh a rally to mark the anniversary was held on Saturday, in the hope of raising awareness once more.

But while the end result in Africa may still be a little vague, for many the march truly was a life-changing experience, encouraging them to work more closely with aid organisations and to take a hands-on role in bringing an end to poverty in Africa.

Catherine Moran, 26, from Canonmills

Before last year's march, Catherine wasn't entirely sure what her future would hold. After graduating with a degree in English literature from Edinburgh University, she had been working with young people on a study course.

But after taking part in the march she realised she wanted to become more involved in the fight to end poverty.

"It was a life-changing experience," she says. "I had always been aware of the problems in Africa but at that moment it really crystalised into something that felt really important. There were so many people taking part and it was amazing to realise that the concerns you had about these problems were shared by thousands of others."

Following the march, Catherine began looking for ways to become more involved in the continuing struggle to provide greater aid to Africa. "One of the main changes was that I became much more political, and I paid much closer attention to the news," she says.

"I wasn't just willing to take what I'd read at face value, I wanted to find out more. It was because of that I started to get involved with charity work and eventually joined Jubilee Scotland."

The Edinburgh-based anti-poverty organisation was one of the organisers of last year's march, and Catherine now works for them part-time as a campaign worker, speaking to young people about the problems in Africa and trying to motivate others to join the fight against poverty.

"I really feel this is what I want to do with my life, and I think I'll always be involved with charity work, whether I'm employed by them or working as a volunteer," she says. "I went on the march with a lot of my friends and the atmosphere was so enthusiastic, so optimistic. I think it affected all of us, and now we have to make sure that we don't just give up. We need to keep pushing for change."

Dr Katherine Sevar, 24, from Stockbridge

Katherine admits she probably had "zero" involvement with campaign groups before the march, despite sharing the concerns of most people about the plight of people in Africa.

A year later she is now an active volunteer for the World Development Movement and was heavily involved in arranging Saturday's World Justice Festival to mark the anniversary of the event.

"I always wanted to help, but I suppose the biggest difficulty was finding out how," she says. "At the march there was so much information and it was so easy to find out about different groups and what they did, and how people could help out, that it just gave me that boost to get involved."

She now works several hours a week for the World Development Movement in between shifts at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline.

She joined friends for the march because "it was just something I felt I had to do" and says what she remembers most was the wide range of people taking part.

"There were people from all different walks of life and that was really amazing to see," she says. "What we need to do now is keep that spirit going and that is what we hoped to do that with the anniversary event on Saturday.

"It is also another way to help people get in contact with groups like the World Development Movement, and give them some information on how they can help out, whether it is writing campaign letters or volunteering. I have gone from zero involvement in campaigning to helping organise an event like this [World Justice Festival] in less than a year, so it is fair to say the march had a huge effect on my life."

Harriet Grant, 42, from Shandon

Although already involved in the World Development Movement before the march, Harriet admits this had amounted to little more than attending a few meetings and writing a couple of letters.

"I didn't go to every meeting and I didn't feel very involved, honestly," she says. "Then I was asked to help make banners for the march and I just became more and more involved."

Harriet, a former freelance educational trainer, is now the chairwoman of the Edinburgh group and as such was overseeing Saturday's rally. "It is a lot of work, but that is what I was looking for," she says. "I wanted to be more hands-on, and after the march I started going to more meetings and trying to help out with the organising more.

"The thing I remember most about the march was leaving my house with my white T-shirt on and seeing my neighbours all dressed in white heading out to take part.

"I would never have thought it was something they would get involved in, but then as we went along the road more and more people started joining us.

"It was incredible and really inspiring. Seeing so many people who all wanted the same thing definitely encouraged me to get more involved and to help push to ensure that the promises on aid are kept and that we don't stop until we have made poverty history."

Elspeth Helfer, 17, from Blackford

A former pupil at St Thomas Aquinas High School, Elspeth is currently taking a gap year.

Like most youngsters in the city she was desperate to get involved in a massive event which had captured the world's attention.

"It happened here in our city," she says. "We felt we were in the spotlight so it brought things home a bit more - especially to realise how many people had travelled so far to be here to march and how important it was to them.

"Everyone wore the white Make Poverty History tape. People wrapped it round their waist and the girls tied it in their hair."

She was so struck by the spirit of the march that she travelled to Africa last summer for almost a month, working with the Africa Fund on sustainable development projects. And a year later she is still as keen as ever to help out.

"I'm going back to Africa this summer, again with the Africa Fund, for seven weeks," she said.

"I'm going to be working in a baby cottage, which is like an orphanage for under fives. The project is all about sustainable development. It's important to help people take advantage of their own resources rather than just sending money.

"I'd wanted to go to Uganda since I was small, but the campaign spurred me to do something about it and do it now."

Robert Murray, 17, from Colinton

Another former St Thomas' pupil, Robert has also been motived to take hands-on action since participating in the march last year.

He is to study community education at Moray House next year, but this summer will also be heading to Uganda with the Scouting Association for six weeks.

And he feels the march has encouraged more people to get involved in similar projects.

"There is definitely an increase in the number of individuals and groups going to Africa," he said. "I'm going to a school in Uganda with the Scouts. It's a primary school near the capital Kampala. We are going to help rebuild it, and provide equipment.

For me the march and the Make Poverty History campaign emphasised the importance of going."