CIEE Service-Learning Program in Cape Town, South Africa

  South Africa

• Cape Town: 
Cape Town (Kaapstad)

Term: Fall, Spring 
Dates: Fall 18 weeks: early-July-mid-November; Spring 18 weeks: late January-mid June

Description: The CIEE Service-Learning Program provides students with an integrated approach to learning and community involvement. The program enables students to be active in service while providing opportunities to reflect upon the complexities and challenges facing Cape Town specifically and South Africa generally. The program is conducted in and intends to meet the needs of local communities in order to help foster civic responsibility, while engaging students in a rigorous academic program of language study, research methodology, African studies, and research.

Academic Program
Since 1947, CIEE has engaged in fulfilling its mission to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world. The Service-Learning Program at the University of Cape Town (UCT) serves this mission by providing a framework for students to fulfill their educational and personal goals while also giving back to the communities in which their learning takes place. In this sense, service-leaning closes the circle on an experiential learning cycle, and provides benefits to all of those who are touched by the program.

The American Association for Higher Education defines Service-Learning as: a method under which students learn and develop through thoughtfully organized service that: is conducted in and meets the needs of a community and is coordinated with an institution of higher education, and with the community; helps foster civic responsibility; is integrated into and enhances the academic curriculum of the students enrolled; and includes structured time for students to reflect on the service experience.

This program is built upon the four core principles of Service-Learning, and each component of the program addresses one of more of the principles:

1) Engagement
2) Reflection
3) Reciprocity
4) Public Dissemination

Academic Culture
The core course and capstone projects draw on the expertise of faculty from the Department of Sociology and others at the University of Cape Town. The service component is coordinated through UCTs non-profit Students Health and Welfare Centres Organisation (SHAWCO), where the CIEE Service-Learning program also has its administrative office.

The program runs during the fall and spring semesters and consists of 15 semester credits based upon three main components:

1) A two-part core course with integrated service
2) Language training which is appropriate to the communities where service is performed
3) An academic capstone project which draws upon all other elements of the program

Highlights:

• Fully integrated service program where you give back to the local community
  
• Strong academic program that contextualizes your service experience
  
• Holistic program approach to help gain first-hand knowledge of Western Cape societies

The comprehensive cultural program developed by CIEE consists of visits to local theater, music, and dance productions; museum tours; and rural cooperatives. Events and activities are chosen to provide students with a good overview of the diversity in South Africa. A weekend homestay with a local family is also included in the cultural program.

Immersion
CIEE SOLmates
SOLmates (Student Orientation Leaders) are a dedicated group of UCT students who assist CIEE students during orientation and throughout the semester. Through ongoing interaction with these local students, CIEE participants are able to meet local South African and international students and learn first-hand about student life in Cape Town.

Habitat for Humanity
CIEE has entered into a partnership with Habitat for Humanity which allows students to participate in building a CIEE-sponsored house in a previously disadvantaged community on the Cape Peninsula.

Cost in US$: Please check the CIEE website for current program pricing

Experience Required: yes