YOUTH MONTH
This Youth Month, we're celebrating students who are driving positive change on campus, in their communities and beyond. Through their leadership, compassion and commitment, they are helping to build a better future for South Africa. These profiles highlight the impact and energy of a new generation of changemakers at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU).
In a world facing an escalating climate crisis, Ocean Postman is determined to show that big change can begin with small steps close to home. A third-year BA Humanities student majoring in political science and philosophy, she has emerged as a leading voice for sustainability on campus.
Responsible for the sustainability portfolio on the Student Representative Council (SRC), Postman has turned her passion for the planet into concrete action. This April, she spearheaded an Earth Day initiative on campus that brought environmental activism to the streets of Stellenbosch.
From volunteer to leader
Postman grew up with a strong sense of social justice and a love of writing and music. But it was through volunteering that she found her calling in environmental activism. She believes climate activism is a shared responsibility that starts in local communities. Neighbourhood cleanups and tree-planting drives first sparked her commitment to sustainability.
“My inspiration for getting involved in sustainability was seeing how local initiatives really can make a difference, like the beach cleanups that happened after the devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal," Postman explains. “After that, it grew into more of a passion, knowing that the only way to engage in climate activism is collaboratively. What emboldened me, was the knowledge that I am a part of a huge movement of people who want to see sustainability achieved."
This grassroots ethos now guides her approach to leadership. She sees her role in student governance as a platform to amplify others' voices and drive collective action.
One of her proudest moments this year was coordinating the Earth Day campus-wide cleanup effort when dozens of bags of trash were collected on and around campus. The initiative was a collaboration between the SRC, the environmental society EcoMaties, and SU's environmental sustainability team. It was a practical demonstration of her belief that climate activism is a shared responsibility that starts locally and grows through participation.
Inspiring change through collaboration
Environmental issues can sometimes feel overwhelming, Postman admits. “But change doesn't rest on one person's shoulders. It happens in and among communities, and as students, we belong to a community that is more powerful than we realise."
The little things are the most rewarding, she remarks: “A student making the time to come to our cleanups in between their busy class schedule; or seeing students learn more about the initiatives in their community of Stellenbosch and beyond, and them actually showing up. It's been both a reward and a challenge to get students who can feel quite overwhelmed initially, to be excited to plant a tree, thrift, and make responsible choices."
Postman has also made her mark as a writer, using words as a tool for empowerment. A former student journalist for Die Matie, she is passionate about equipping young people with knowledge and encouraging them to remain curious.
The power of informed voices
“In terms of writing, I strongly believe in the youth being empowered with knowledge," she remarks. That belief was validated in 2024 when she won the prestigious CREDO-KAS (Centre for Research on Democracy- Konrad Adenauer Foundation) Africa Democracy Essay Award, held annually by SU's Department of Political Science. “That was a real highlight of my academic career."
Postman says she is grateful for the support of a strong network of family and peers. “My family understand my passion for social activism and have always let me express it from a young age." She also draws inspiration from fellow student leaders, especially those working in intersectional spaces.
When progress feels slow, Postman finds perspective in nature. “I like to be outside. I love to take a walk through the Jan Marais Park, look back at my favourite hiking trails at home in KZN, and read about some of the work and research that activists have been doing in South Africa and beyond. It really is about reminding myself that I'm just one person, connected in this deeply meaningful way to other human beings whose activism is courageous and inspiring."
To students wanting to make a difference, she offers practical advice: “Just ask! Ask your residence leadership, your faculty or the student communities you want to be involved in. I personally began by volunteering my time, and I read a lot. Staying informed, not just about what you study, because the opportunities to serve our communities are out there."
PHOTO: Stefan Els
GRAPHIC: Geola Bergman?
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