Submitted by Otrude Moyo, Social Work Department chair and associate professor. This July 2016 trip is connected with a University of Michigan-Flint International and Global Studies (IGS) study abroad course: Rethinking Social Development in Southern Africa.

The South Africa Study Abroad included three days in Johannesburg. We visited a couple of places that highlight the injustices that black South Africans experienced under apartheid for example, Apartheid Museum, Hector Pieterson Museum and Constitutional Hills. Our learning visit to Constitutional Hills facilitated students’ understanding on the judicial system of South Africa, especially the constitutional court.

We visited Lesedi Cultural village – a living museum of five of South Africa’s ethnic groups’ Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho, Ndebele and Pedi. Students learn about the traditions and customs of each of these groups. The highlight of the visit was students participating in a dance troupe.

We were in Cape Town July 5th -8th, 2016. Besides the picturesque physical environment including Table Mountain, we visited Groot Constantia wineries. A region that has been making wine since the 1600s, this continues to be the white and wealthier part of Cape Town. In contrast, we visited District Six museum where people (Africans, Coloureds and Asians) were forced to move to create white spaces and Langa Township part of the location where some in District Six tried to make ends meet. Today, the South African government is trying to facilitate the process of better housing, but the need is so great that informal settlements are also part of this landscape.

We have been in Fort Beaufort since Friday July 8th, 2016. Saturday we visited Grahamstown National Arts Festival. Since we were there during the day we just went around to galleries and market stalls, and we wished we had the opportunity to see the film shows, theater and music! We saw wonderful street performances by Xhosa children’s dance troupes and various mime artists.

Tuesday July 11, I marveled at the adaptability of our students as they made sandwiches (the US assembly line way) for about 50 children! It was great to see some of our students step up to provide programming for children who are participating in Ubuntu Arts and Dialogues in Diversity in Healdtown Comprehensive School, our community partner for the project.

It was very touching to see the enthusiasm of children as Carson Waites, with the Office of Extended Learning, showed the children his camera, and the children lined up to get a chance to use his camera! As part of the program some children received disposable cameras to take pictures that represent Ubuntu in their community. Later, the children use these photographs to create scrapbook material to showcase their work on the final day of the program.

The high point of this trip has been the students’ end of day reflections. We talk about our high and low points including the areas of personal growth. The discussions are deep and meaningful each day.