Nation Building in South Africa
Dr. DeeDee Allen
Department of Natural Sciences
Shaw University
Thanks to the support of the ExxonMobil fellowship and support from a collaborator, my trip to South Africa was truly a great experience. I count it among one of the top experiences in my life to have contributed to my personal and professional growth. The following report will highlight the experiences and outcomes of the trip.
Education
I was born in 1977, which means that I was only 1 year old when the political riots in South Africa started. I was in middle school when Nelson Mandela was released from prison and in 11th grade when he took the office of President. Therefore, I knew relatively little about the history of struggle in South Africa prior to my trip. This was indeed an eye-opening experience. I found the lectures to be well planned and the lecturers were very knowledgeable about their areas. It was also helpful that all the people with whom we came in contact had personal experiences with the topics because they have lived through it.
Experiences
The cultural exposure was much greater than I had anticipated. I had several opportunities to experience South African food and conversation. I arrived a few days before the CIEE trip began. During that time I was able to meet with faculty in chemistry, take a minibus taxi ride the way the locals do it, and attend a church service. In many instances I did not feel like a tourist, but more like an active participant in conversation and culture. The CIEE family visit was wonderful both in food and information. The host was a teacher who was able to answer and spark many questions. There was also amazing to see the energy and vitality of the youth in the distinctly different cities of Cape Town, Pretoria and Soweto. These are only a handful of experiences out of the many that fill my journals.
Personal Growth
While I have not lived a "sheltered" life, I have not had significant exposure to the extremely disadvantaged side of life. Coming to terms with the legacy of Apartheid was a truly humbling experience. There are still issues of inequality that remain in the United States, but not nearly as dramatic as those in South Africa. This experience has allowed me to evaluate my own character and beliefs relative to an international culture. There is a lot to be considered and a lot to be explored. The best way to describe how the trip affected my personal growth is to describe it as a mirror. While in South Africa I felt like I was looking into a magnifying mirror of my own culture. All of the subtle inequalities of the United States were magnified in South African society. On one hand, the trip discouraged me knowing that we are still dealing with inequality. How does South Africa stand a chance in reaching equality if one of the richest nations in the world has been unable to reach it? On the other hand, I was greatly energized by a people determined to make democracy work. I came back from the trip a more committed person for the cause for which I fight – educating a disadvantaged population of students.
Classroom Implications
I teach in a historically black institution. One of the primary reasons I went on the trip was to better understand and connect with my students since I am from a white middle class background. I feel this goal was accomplished. After seeing the affects of Apartheid I have a better idea of why certain behaviors are observable in my students. While my students have no recollection of segregation or the Civil Rights movement, they are only the second generation of offspring from a culture that experienced great oppression and struggle. Struggle affects a people in very distinct ways that become apparent in actions. I now have a greater respect for my students and a much greater passion to see that they obtain the quality of education they deserve.
Internationalization Efforts
Another reason for my interest in South Africa was to build collaborations with my counterparts in science. The primary intent was to identify research groups for my international students who are not eligible for most U.S. based programs due to funding sources. I have been unable to accomplish this goal due to the same funding regulations in South Africa (i.e. South Africa's research dollars fund South Africa students). However, I plan to build mentoring relationships with my international students (most of which are from Africa) that will allow me to work with them individually and place them into research groups using a networking strategy. I believe this mentor relationship will allow me, the students, and other faculty to learn about international culture and issues.
There were two unexpected results of the trip. (1) I identified colleagues with which to have intellectual exchange in chemistry education, teacher education, and global discussions on college access programs for previously disadvantaged peoples. (2) I identified a possible connection for guest lectures between faculty in the U.S. and South Africa. I am part of an eight-school partnership in North Carolina, all of which have video teleconferencing capability. The University of Western Cape also has this capability and is known for its science and math programs. This will serve to build collaboration efforts between schools in both countries.
In regard to meetings and presentations, I have already given two presentations of my trip to faculty colleagues outside of Shaw University. I will also have the opportunity to present during a departmental faculty meeting as well as to a group of students. Other dissemination methods such as email and a webpage will be used to inform others about the experience and the opportunities available through CIEE.
Summary
As I reflect upon my experiences in South Africa, I realize that there is a lot of information that I am still processing. I find myself listening more intently to the news, especially international news, and discussing current issues. This trip has been a mind opening event that will forever change the way I think about the world. I give sincere thanks to my supporters and pledge to encourage participation by others.