Pre-departure to South Africa

Good morning All,

Before departing to South Africa, I just wanted to say a few words on what I expect students will gain from their experience. Having visited and studied South Africa, I believe students will gain a broad understanding of what the political, social, cultural and economic landscape is of a developing country. Students will be expose to a number of resources that will allow them the opportunity to understand and connect South Africa to the global world. Students will also become pseudo-experts in a particular political, social, or historical issue by conducting an intensive amount of research prior to departing for South Africa and by utilizing South Africa as a social science laboratory. Student topics include-understanding the effectiveness of Aids/HIV policy, the history of women's activism, the history of the education system and the implications of Oprah's Leadership School for Girls, eco-tourism and its impact on South Africans, and an evaluation of the effectiveness of housing policy, to name a few of the topics. At the conclusion of the trip students should be able to plug their South African experience into the big picture: an understanding of the difference that exist in the global world. Issues of social justice, equality, wealth, politics, culture, and history are of the paramount of this trip. Stay tuned for daily blogs from the students.

Professor Eddie Summers