By Katherine Stievater
This past fall, I traveled to South Africa. I’d been looking forward to this site visit for a long time. I’d heard great things about opportunities for our students in South Africa, especially in Cape Town. But I needed to see them in person to assess safety protocols and overall program quality, and see what kind of experience our students would have in country.
And…I could not be more thrilled at what I found!
- I was very impressed with the local partners and their staff
- students believe they’re having meaningful impact, and feel comfortable in their working and living locations
- we reconfirmed that these programs are geared more to the “independent student”
Meeting Students
One of the best parts of site visits is always spending time with current students! There’s no substitute for hearing directly about their experience, have they felt safe, what types of activities and internships make up their day, which companies and non-profit organizations they work with, the neighborhoods in which they live and work, what their accommodations are like, and so on.
The students I met felt that their experiences exceeded expectations. Many came for four or seven weeks and extended their involvement. Some eventually returned and become assistants or counselors. They all convinced me that South Africa is a great location for Gap Year experiences!
Greater Kruger
In the northern part of South Africa, Gap Year experiences take advantage of the amazingly varied terrain, wildlife and flora. In the Kruger area, programs work on landscape restoration, help local mines build animal safety protocols, and research ways to save trees from hungry elephants which have grown in numbers in the area. Wildlife photography has also become popular and we saw some amazing images that students had taken of birds, animals, and beautiful vistas.
Program Leadership
Program directors and staff, and local partners I met are extraordinarily passionate about their work. They have a strong sense of mission and are really dedicated to improving the lives of people, especially the mothers and children living in the townships. The directors are sometimes the founders of the programs – they are so determined to make their programs work, and have a real sense of gratitude for their volunteers which include many Gap Year students.
Living and Learning
Accommodations for Gap Year students participating in the Cape Town programs I visited vary, but all have 24 hour security, felt secure to me, and all the students I spoke with were feeling safe while there. What’s great is that the housing is with other students, and organized by the programs. It’s nice to be able to suggest an internship location outside the U.S. and have the housing already taken care of! The Kruger programs also have great housing and I got to try out one of the tented cabins on the Oliphants River!
Local Impact
Countries in Africa continue to grapple with a complicated history of colonial rule and many struggle in the present with government corruption, weak judicial systems, and lack of resources to address all their pressing issues. South Africa of course has the more recent history of apartheid. There are abundant opportunities to assist local organizations meet people’s needs. Volunteers are always needed and appreciated! Programs work hard to make sure volunteers are having a real impact on their communities. Even in the bush, projects can take place over years. One program has been working on removing invasive cactus species in their Greater Kruger location for 2+ years.
Safety
All programs that I met have clear safety protocols and emergency medical procedures. Students know the location of the nearest medical facility. For students on conservation projects in Kruger, safety rules and precautions are reviewed every time they go out. In Cape Town, students use Uber at night and always have another student with them. They remind themselves to be smart – for example, don’t leave your phone sticking out of your back pocket (Cape Town is like a lot of urban areas – lots of people, lots of sticky fingers!)
Language
South Africa Gap Year programs are very accessible for English speakers. The programs I met had students from South Africa, Europe, the U.S. and elsewhere. Students certainly engage with their local community, but also with each other and learn about many other cultures outside South Africa through fellow students.
While students speak many languages, English is the official language used by programs. Some require only English be spoken while students are onsite, and sometimes even in groups when offsite. This makes it very easy for U.S. students to participate, and adds to my judgment that South Africa is an attractive location for our students!
Conclusion
I visited with seven programs in Cape Town and three up north (Kruger and Tzaneen). I was amazed at the dedication of the directors and volunteers, and their grit and willingness to make many sacrifices to create impact. These are terrific locations for gap year students to learn independence, problem solving, city and country navigation, and immerse in local history, culture and language. I would send my own children in a heartbeat – and I can’t wait to go back some day!
