IPSL: South Africa - Apartheid's Footprint, Community Health and Transformation

Financial Aid is available for eligible students. IPSL accepts Americorps Segal Education awards, too.

Cape Town is a beautiful port city on South Africa’s southwest coast, with a colorful mix of cultures, cuisines and landscapes. It is located beneath the flat-topped Table Mountain which is accessible by cable car. At the top there are sweeping views of the city, the busy harbor and boats heading for Robben Island, the notorious prison that once held Nelson Mandela, which is now a living museum. Time spent in the city studying, volunteering and living with a South African family is combined with opportunities to explore the National Parks as well as the urban environment of Cape Town and surrounding areas.

IPSL is partnered with a social service organization in South Africa. This international non-profit recognizes that the challenges of homelessness and mental health requires innovative solutions. They offer rehabilitative employment, to vulnerable people, giving them a chance to heal themselves mentally and emotionally. A student’s specific placement will be determined by community and agency needs, as well as the students’ interests, goals and skills.

Volunteer opportunities may include:

Academic courses frame the history of South Africa, its challenges and opportunities that help students to understand the South Africa of today.

Courses may include (all classes are taught in English):
• Intro to COSA (Community Organizing and Social Activism)
• COSA in South Africa
• Apartheid’s Footprint: South Africa Today
• Community Health and Engagement: Volunteer Development, Social Enterprise and Justice in South Africa

IPSL participants live in a Eco-Village conveniently located within Cape Town city. The village is a collective of several NGO's doing different work within the region and serving different populations. It is a ready made laboratory to explore local social development efforts! If available, you can also choose to live in a homestay with a South African family in Cape Town.

Excursions may include:

IPSL engages students, educators, and grassroots organizations around the world in hands-on service to promote equitable relationships, social justice, sustainable change, and a commitment to our shared humanity. IPSL is the founder of Service-Learning. They invest over 83% of their revenues directly back into the communities where they serve.