South Africa, July 2013: Update 2

It's been a busy week and a half in South Africa! During the first week, the entire team was able to visit several significant sites, including the Robben Island prison where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 18 years. We also sat down for a conversation with students at Stellenbosch University, a traditionally Afrikaans-speaking university that has welcomed a diverse population of students since the end of apartheid.

The work with Living Way is progressing extremely well. Our team is working with the Agri-Academy, a mentoring program that is part of Living Way. The Academy currently has 13 students, all of whom are in the first phase of the program. During this phase, they are learning the basics of working in an agricultural business. Those who graduate from this phase will leave well-prepared to engage in the formal economy, while those who continue on will receive further training in management and entrepreneurship. Our role in this project is to prepare curriculum for the more advanced stages of the Agri-Academy.

On Thursday, 18 July, the team spent an entire day serving at Living Hope for Mandela Day. This day of service honors Nelson Mandela, and is commemorated each year on his birthday. On this day, South Africans and global citizens alike are asked to engage in 67 minutes of service, one minute for each year Mandela spent as a freedom fighter. There was substantial work to do at Living Hope that day, including clearing of a new plot of land that will eventually be home to the Living Way Agri-Academy.

Stay tuned for a final update after the conclusion of the trip!

South Africa, July 2013: Update 1

Greetings from South Africa! This month, five Samford University students are engaging in economic development work in Cape Town, as part of a multi-year collaborative project facilitated by the Mann Center.

The students are working in the Masiphumelele township with Living Way, a non-governmental organization based in Cape Town. In a continuation of last year’s project, the team is developing curriculum for students in Living Way’s Agri-Academy, a program that teaches the basics of running an agricultural business.

Tracy Knapp, a senior philosophy major, is this year’s team leader. Joining her are Natalie Bennie, a sophomore global studies major; Clarissa Donaldson, a senior Brock Scholar; Rachel Eller, a senior marketing and economics major; and Brittony Mays, a senior political science major. 

Stay tuned for more updates from the team!