Information for term Leadership & Service Through Mandela's Example
Application deadline, and cost information.
Overview
Click to OpenTake action with community leaders to bring Nelson Mandela’s legacy to life.
Cape Town, a port city located on the southwestern tip of South Africa, attracts visitors from every corner of the world. It offers stunning beaches and views from the flat-topped Table Mountain, a World Heritage site that towers over the city and its busy harbor. Nicknamed “The Mother City,” Cape Town is modern and sophisticated. It’s known for its diversity in art, dance, music, food, and culture—12 official languages, including South African Sign Language, are spoken here. The city continues to grapple with vast socioeconomic inequalities inherited from its colonial and apartheid past. It has progressed, but NGOs are still hard at work promoting equality through community projects.
Cape Town is bursting with energy. Its shops, food markets, and the lively waterfront on the edge of the city’s harbor are the places to be when you’re not out on the water or exploring the nearby Cape Peninsula to catch a glimpse of African penguins.
Follow our Travels:
The Take-Aways
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REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE
Join local NGOs to support the community through service initiatives. Come home with a greater understanding of your leadership style and societal issues in South Africa. Be prepared to take action in your own community.
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CREDENTIALS FOR YOUR FUTURE
Topics for your college essays; experience to inform your future career; a Service Reflection Presentation documenting how you investigated needs, resources, and perspectives during your service; and a record of your service-learning hours.
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LIFE SKILLS AND NEW FRIENDSHIPS
Return with greater self-confidence, independence, and improved leadership skills. Enjoy a broader worldview and friends of different backgrounds from across the U.S.
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HOURS OF SERVICE-LEARNING
50 -
WEEKS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
3 -
LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE
1
Location & Culture
Click to Open
The Destination
Welcome to South Africa, a land of breathtaking natural beauty and a microcosm of African countries in transition.
Cape Town, a port city located on the southwestern tip of South Africa, attracts visitors from every corner of the world. It offers stunning beaches and views from the flat-topped Table Mountain, a World Heritage site that towers over the city and its busy harbor. Nicknamed “The Mother City,” Cape Town is modern and sophisticated. It’s known for its diversity in art, dance, music, food, and culture—12 official languages, including South African Sign Language, are spoken here. The city continues to grapple with vast socioeconomic inequalities inherited from its colonial and apartheid past. It has progressed, but NGOs are still hard at work promoting equality through community projects.
Cape Town is bursting with energy. Its shops, food markets, and the lively waterfront on the edge of the city’s harbor are the places to be when you’re not out on the water or exploring the nearby Cape Peninsula to catch a glimpse of African penguins.
CULTURAL AWARENESS
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Cape Town.
Daily Life
Click to OpenDaily Life
Monday–Friday
Each day offers a balance between interactive instruction, service-learning, and cultural activities with time on your own, too.
- Breakfast at the hostel
- Hands-on learning with local instructors and NGO workers and/or service in community projects 
- Lunch in the community with your fellow Global Navigators 
- Out and about for a Cultural Activity or more service in the community 
- Time to write individual reflections on your service and for holding group debriefs 
- Dinner at the hostel or out in the community
Weekends
- Overnight or day excursions to top sites
- Quality time with friends
Check out the blog posts to discover more about daily life and excursions on program.
Note: Before beginning your program in Cape Town, you’ll spend 3 days in Johannesburg where you will have orientation. You’ll participate in workshops on culture, language, social norms, and current events and visit historical sites to learn about Mandela’s life.
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Hostel, shared rooms with other Global Navigators
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1 Program Leader for every 12 students and support from local staff
Weekly Learning Goals
Week 1
Click to OpenJohannesburg orientation and travel to Cape Town. Investigate a community-identified need and prepare to participate in your service project. Start a Reflection Journal and deepen your understanding of South Africa’s history and the different ways that Apartheid impacts society today.
Week 2
Click to OpenBegin your hands-on service. Learn basic isiXhosa language to support community interaction. In your Reflection Journal and debriefs, write and talk about what you are learning, the impact you are making, and how the experience is changing you. Start working on your Service Reflection Presentation.
Week 3
Click to OpenContinue to reflect on your experiences through journaling and debriefs. Complete your service and celebrate with community members. To demonstrate your learning, share your Service Reflection Presentation and deliver a presentation on what you’ve learned, how you’ve grown as a leader, and how you’ll apply your skills back home.
Program Blogs
Click to OpenProgram Blogs
Activities
Click to OpenSample Activities
Just imagine all the fun you’ll have!
- Go on a game drive outside Cape Town and try to spot the Big 5: lion, leopard, rhino, Cape buffalo, and African elephant.  
- Summit Table Mountain by cable car and hike up Lion’s Head by sheer willpower. From the rocky perch, feast your eyes on Robben Island in the distant bay and Cape Town below. 
- Connect with local teens as they share their experiences growing in Cape Town and play a game of rugby.
- Explore the magnificent Cape Peninsula! Go by boat to Seal Island and on foot down the boardwalks of Boulders Beach for a close-up look at African penguins.  
- Tour Robben Island where Mandela was imprisoned. Hear from others who survived their time there and see the Stones of Remembrance, a symbol of the South African people’s struggle for freedom, dignity, and human rights. 
Please note activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
Dates & Fees
Click to OpenDates & Fees
Eligibility
- Program open to all current high school students: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors. 
- For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our Scholarship page.
- This program involves engaging in moderate to high intensity physical activities, such as hiking and extended observational time outdoors.
Application Fee
$25
Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.
More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations or contact us.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Session I 2023 3 weeks | Deadline Passed | Jun 18, 2023 | Jul 8, 2023 |
$5,150 |
| Summer Session II 2023 3 weeks | Deadline Passed | Jul 9, 2023 | Jul 29, 2023 |
$5,150 |
Looking for funding?
What's Included
Click to OpenWhat's Included
Ready to change your life?
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