Savusa-NiZA Student Publication series The project of Student Publications has been designed by SAVUSA and NiZA to try and stimulate publication in the Netherlands of excellent South African and Dutch MA-theses on relevant Southern African themes. It offers the graduated student the possibility to rework and condense his or her thesis into a scientific publication under professional supervision This will provide international academic exposure and a possible first step into a future academic career. The idea of Student Publications fits neatly into both SAVUSA’s and NiZA’s objectives (see below) and makes use of the specific expertise and organisational infrastructures of both participants. SAVUSA Cooperation through Publishing South Africa is an important focus point of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) internationalisation policy, as a logical consequence of the long-standing relations between the VU and several South African universities. SAVUSA, South Africa - Vrije Universiteit - Strategic Alliances, has been developed in 2002. Its key objective is to stimulate academic cooperation between VU-faculties and universities in South Africa by facilitating scientific publications on both staff and student level. For further information, see www.savusa.nl. NiZA The Netherlands institute for Southern Africa is a politically independent organisation committed to the solidarity with ‘ordinary’ people in southern Africa. NiZA helps them to structurally fight poverty, injustice and inequality. To attain this objective NiZA primarily collaborates with organisations in southern Africa that promote the freedom of expression, media freedom, human rights, peace building and economic justice. Furthermore NiZA promotes the involvement of the Dutch people in southern Africa by collecting and disseminating documentation and information, and by informing the press and the public on issues concerning the region. For further information, see www.niza.nl. Harry Wels Series Editor savusa@fsw.vu.nl Marinda van Niekerk Persisting Advocates The unheard stories of adolescents infected with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS