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Student groups have been very much at the forefront of the popular uprisings in the Middle East, following the overthrow of the Tunisian and Egyptian governments.

It has been an extraordinary time, and the experience will stay with those who took part for many years to come.

Simon Panek was a student leader in Czechoslovakia's Velvet Revolution in 1989, who joined forces with the political dissidents of Charter 77.

His role in changing the course of his country's history had a lasting impact on his life.

Following the downfall of Czechoslovakia's Communist leadership, he established People In Need - one of the largest Non Governmental Organisations in Central Eastern Europe, and one which provides aid and works to defend democratic freedom in countries all around the world.

Simon Panek came into the Outlook studio and told Lucy Ash how he became involved in the fight against communism.

First broadcast 18 February 2011