#IWASTHERE
Taking up the challenge
Daphne found out that the complex issues around changing (inter)national tax policies are actually quite exciting in their own right, and vital to the fight against extreme economic inequality if a little dry to promote to the public.
A mixed nationality background first awoke Daphne’s awareness of different cultures and the interconnectedness between different parts of the world. She has gone on to study those links further and to campaign for fairer national and global systems.
Cultural exchange
Daphne Rozenburg, 24, is half Dutch, half Indonesian which, she says, makes for “a rather interesting personality mix; [part] blunt and direct, while maintaining an intense need to be caring and polite.” Growing up with two cultures meant she always understood that the world had more to offer, and she had some experience of this when the family spent three happy years in the Caribbean. It continued when she spent a semester in San Diego, USA, during her Communications degree.
A developing awareness
Daphne started thinking more about development issues during a Women’s Studies class at San Diego State University. They learned about Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan political and environmental activist and founder of the Green Belt Movement, and that the environment, democracy, and peace are linked so that many of the challenges we face today are intertwined and cannot be fixed separately. “I left class that day feeling unusually excited,” Daphne says. “Ready to change things, do something for the better.”
An opportunity with Oxfam Novib
Back in the Netherlands, Daphne joined the Social Development Department at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she learned more about development cooperation. Intrigued, especially, by sustainable and inclusive development, she started an internship at Oxfam Novib. The Oxfam Novib Academy enabled the interns to keep in touch and learn from each other although they went to work in different departments. Daphne worked on fair taxation within the Even It Up! campaign team.
Finding the excitement in taxes
Daphne took on this challenge because fair taxation was the thing she knew the least about! It seems a poor relation when compared with the excitement of fieldwork or disaster response, but the complex issues around changing (inter)national tax policies are actually quite exciting in their own right, and vital to the fight against extreme economic inequality if a little dry to promote to the public. Daphne’s role in Communications and Campaigning meant she met this problem head-on.
Communicating on vital issues
Daphne’s favourite project was when she traveled to Paris and Brussels alongside two of the tax advisers. “My goal for both trips was to capture the essence of the vital advocacy work that goes on within powerful institutions,” she explains. “But in a light and approachable way. This work is absolutely crucial.” Her time with the Even it up! campaign made Daphne a truly active citizen.
Stepping outside the comfort zone
“To me, active citizenship means caring,” Daphne says. “Fighting for something bigger than yourself. It means fighting for the rights of others, knowing their battles might be very different from your own. Working at Oxfam Novib has allowed me to care for problems I will never face, and for people I will never meet. It has forced me to step far outside my comfort zone.”
The fight goes on
Today, Daphne is a Youth Ambassador for The One Campaign (a global movement to end poverty) and she’s planning to study Political Communication at the University of Glasgow from September. “I am continuing the fight,” she says, “by advocating to keep the focus of EU aid on eradicating poverty, and providing health services, education and economic empowerment to those who need it most.” Just as Oxfam is helping others around the world to learn the things that help them move forward. Daphne learned more about international development issues during her time with Oxfam Novib and, as a result, will continue “sparking positive social change through political communication”.
The Oxfam Novib Academy (ONA) is the hub for internships within Oxfam Novib. Since 2015 ONA has been bridging academia and practice within the field of development and humanitarian work. To date, over 130 students have interned with the Oxfam Novib Academy. More information and blogs written by current and former interns can be found here.
Daphne ‘s story is part of the multiyear campaign, kicked off on International Youth Day 2019 by Oxfam Novib. The campaign aims to support national (influencing) work by joining forces with local role models. The ripples of #Iwasthere are spreading out around the world and these stories are proof that change can happen anywhere – we hope they will inspire you, too, to become an active citizen.
Why these stories?
There are more young people today than ever before in the history of the world; 1.8 billion people between the ages of 10 and 24 worldwide, and 90% of them live in low-income countries. . Harnessing the energy and strength of young women and men to become active citizens is core to Oxfam's goal of transformational change.
With their energy, skills and creativity, young people have the potential to be the driving force for social change, strong economies and vibrant democracies.
Oxfam is working jointly with youth to challenge barriers that prevent them from
Enjoying their rights
Participating fully in society
Being an effective voice in decision-making processes
How youthful dreams become reality.
These stories are proof that change can happen anywhere -
to inspire you to become an active citizen.
- Bangladesh
- Ethiopia
- Indonesia
- Italy
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Somalia
- The Netherlands
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Dilah
“Development is more than just economy or infrastructure, it’s all about humans.”
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Pakeeza
“As activists, we have to be patient. Without patience we can’t do anything, we just struggle.”
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Jesse van Schaik
“I hope other people think ‘if she can do it, then I can do it, and then it won’t be that hard.’”
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Chioma Ukonu
“Youths must work every day to be the change they want to see.”
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Duressa
“The only thing that I cannot do, is child bearing and breast feeding. This is not naturally gifted to men!”
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Daphne Rozenburg
“My goal was to capture the essence of the vital advocacy work that goes on within powerful institutions. But in a light and approachable way.”
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Milagros
“We are young, we are prepared. We have many things to do.”
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Muzamil Ali
“The biggest challenge wasn’t informing them about modern farming techniques but persuading them to abandon outdated methods”
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Nasrin
“Work is never defined for men and women, it is us who creates this differentiation. There are lots of people in rural areas who are not getting enough medical support, I want to do something more for their advancement by engaging the youth of our community.”
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Shadia
“Fear is not part of my life. I conquer the fear itself.”
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Opeyemi Agbaje
“I did not have any computer knowledge prior to this time; I only used computers for watching movies!”
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Hibaaq Larry
“We should create an environment where people can support one another and raise local funds together to buy clothes and food for poor children and mothers.”
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Mr. Ajebo
“Work ethics and character are equally important as you cannot earn a living out of talent alone.”
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Alami
“I believe young women have the capacity to change their lives if they are provided with a safe environment and support from their family, community, and government.”
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Alisha Khan
“Once we overcame our initial hurdles, we felt confident about managing more events, and soon established a good reputation in the city.”
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Yetunde Odusoga
“Even if a person supports you and teaches you how to do a thing, without passion on your part, it’s a ‘NO’!”
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Abdinasir
“Without a book on my lap every day, I don’t know where I would have reached today. One day I will realize my dream of bringing all Sahil people into the library.”
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Habiba
Habiba believes that other women and girls will be inspired by seeing her at work.
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Milkesso
“Seeing my success, many people are now convinced it’s OK to assist women.”
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Salman Shahid
“We aim, one day, to scale up our start-up to a national level”
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Maynul
He started working from home to save money, providing computer support to the community, especially women.
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Mehvish Arifeen
“The beauty parlour industry is exploitative, and because women workers lack awareness about their rights, they pose little to no resistance to unfair work policies.”
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Hamze
“Poetry is art and expression, and has been in my blood since my childhood. If you want people to develop their country, young people are the starting point – they have the drive and stamina to pioneer changes”
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Sumi
To ensure the continued success of her business, she keeps up with the latest fashion trends online, adjusting them for the cultural and religious tastes of her clients.