South Africa: Multiculturalism and Human Rights

  South Africa

• Cape Town: 
Cape Town (Kaapstad)

Term: Fall, Spring 
Dates: September to December/February to May

Description: South Africa is truly a multicultural society, with 11 national languages and many additional recognized ethnic groups. While they have seen tremendous change in the past decade, South Africans recognize that they have a long road ahead before reaching their ideal of equality. Today, South Africa's leaders are striving to realize the dreams of the new South Africa as they work for reform, a strong economic future, and respect for the nation's unique cultural groups.

Heralded as the most picturesque city in the world, Cape Town, your program base, captivates visitors with panoramas of mountains and ocean and a near-perfect climate. One of the first cities in South Africa to voluntarily promote racial integration, Cape Town is home to South Africa's parliament and is a main venue of legal and legislative battles for social justice. Proud of its long-standing opposition to apartheid, Cape Town is an ideal location in which to study the social evolution of this complex and beautiful nation.

Highlights: This program features several homestays designed to introduce students firsthand to some of South Africa's cultural diversity: four weeks with Xhosa-speaking families and one week with both Afrikaans-speaking and English-speaking families in the greater Cape Town area; one week with families in the rural Eastern Cape; and one week with families in the picturesque village of Stellenbosch in the winelands region just outside of Cape Town.

The program includes educational excursions to the Eastern Cape, Stellenbosch, Western Cape province, and visits to rural areas.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: contact sponsor

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to American and Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently or in Groups

Scholarships are Available.

Application Process Involves:

• Essay
• Letters of Reference
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Job and Internship Network

SIT Study Abroad's Mission Statement: SIT Study Abroad is the accredited higher education institution of World Learning, a private, nonprofit international organization promoting international and intercultural understanding, social justice, and economic development through education, training, and field projects around the globe. SIT prepares students to be interculturally effective leaders, professionals, and citizens through SIT Study Abroad, undergraduate, field-based academic programs operating in more than 50 countries worldwide, and thorough short-term professional training and graduate degrees in language teaching, conflict transformation, international education, social justice in intercultural relations, management, and sustainable development.

Year Founded: 1932