MALAWI • MOLDOVA • MOZAMBIQUE • SOUTH AFRICA • KENYA • LIBERIA
VIETNAM-ENGINEERING • VIETNAM-MEDICAL
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  SOUTH AFRICA -

Academic Courses

  • POL 312: “Politics of Developing Nations: South Africa"
  • ENG 380/AFR 300/WGS 385: “Literature of Protest-South Africa”

Course Overview: If you don't know about the turbulent history of the governmental system of apartheid (racial segregation and discrimination against non-whites) in South Africa and the momentous events leading up to Nelson Mandela's release after being imprisoned for 27 years at Robben Island, then this is your chance to learn about this critical human rights struggle.  During the course, your will learn more about activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu as well as the anonymous citizens who suffered under and fought the apartheid regime.  We will also study contemporary works that chart the uneven movement of the country as it attempts to reconstitute itself in the face of an economic and brain drain, the AIDS epidemic, a rising crime rate, and global economic policies.

Faculty

  • Eimad Houry(Political Science Department)
  • Mary Alice Morgan(English and Women's Studies)
 

Program Highlights:

Service Project Description: We plan to work with a grassroots organization known as EMEP (Extra Mural Education Project).  EMEP works with schools in developing communities in the Western Cape, using "extra murals" - or what we call extra-curricular activities --as vehicles for turning schools into community hubs.  They have a very broad definition of Extra Mural which is more than just sports, the arts, and cultural events, but includes social service delivery, health services, and basically access to all services that promote the wellbeing of children.

We will work with a high school located in one of the poorest townships outside of Cape Town. Our primary project will be to help students write and put on a play that reflects the experiences of the current generation of young people of South Africa.  Poverty, AIDS, immigration, and crime are issues that the young people of South Africa are passionately interested in. 

Tentative Dates:     May 22 - June 17

Tentative Excursions: We will likely include several short day excursions to several destinations around Cape Town, including an animal preserve about two hours away from the city where you can see the "Big Five," lions, Cape buffalo, elephants, rhinoceros, and leopards.  We also plan to tour the city itself and visit famous landmarks like Table Mountain and Robben Island.  We may be able to attend a soccer march during the World Cup.
 

 
 
   

For more information, email MercerOnMission@mercer.edu or call (478) 301-2992.