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cape town aerial view of coastline sunny day
Cape Town, South Africa

Leadership & Service Through Mandela's Example

Enrollment Closed

Leadership

Dates

-

3 weeks

Costs

$4,950

Highlights

Daily activities and excursions

Hostel/hotel

Leadership skills

Service-learning (50 hrs)

Application Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

Enroll Now

Request Information

Overview
Join forces with community leaders and take action as you witness how Nelson Mandela's legacy lives on today in Cape Town!

Mandela, South Africa’s first black president, is famous for his leading role in ending the cruel apartheid system of racial segregation in the ‘90s. Elected to office after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, he introduced housing, education, and economic development initiatives to improve the lives of the black population. His mission continues today through a variety of NGO initiatives, so roll up your sleeves and join in!

How will you contribute? It depends on local community needs. Alongside community leaders, you might serve in a project that supports the unhoused, hospitals or schools, or vulnerable children. Learn about IsiXhosa language and culture to connect with the community. Investigate and reflect on how the country addresses inequality and economic disparity in underserved communities and how leadership skills intersect with identity, power, privilege, and opportunity.

Soak in the rich culture of Cape Town and meet local teens, too. Experience once-in-a-lifetime excursions, like a safari, nature hikes, and a boat trip to Robben Island, where Mandela spent much of his 27 year prison term for leading the apartheid resistance. 

A Summer for Fun, Friends, and Your Future

Explore

Have fun discovering the natural beauty of South Africa.

Network

Meet new friends and NGO leaders. Build your own community.

Get Inspired

Launch your future today! Gain hands-on leadership skills through community projects. Come home ready to take action.

Destination
  • city shot
  • city shot
  • scenic shot

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. No matter where you choose to study abroad with CIEE, our staff will be on hand throughout your program to provide advice, resources, and support.

 

Social feed above may feature posts from all CIEE Study Abroad programs, including college programs.

Itinerary

Sample Itinerary

Objective

You will engage in an immersive exploration of Johannesburg to understand the Apartheid system and Nelson Mandela’s pivotal role in its abolition. Then, you will journey to Cape Town for the rest of your stay in South Africa to establish a meaningful context for your upcoming service projects. 

Highlights*

  • Constitutional Hill
  • Vilakazi Street, Home of Nelson Mandela
  • Apartheid Museum
  • Table Mountain
  • Langa Township Tour and traditional cooking class

*Based on prior year itinerary and subject to change.

Objective

You will begin service work with a local community reading project. You will also engage with school learners through literacy and peer-to-peer discussions that compare literacy efforts in the United States and South Africa. You will put your knowledge into practice and discuss the impact and limitations of your work. Your engagement with your peers will equip you with knowledge, skills, and confidence to advocate for issues you are passionate about. 

Highlights*

  • Robben Island
  • Elephant’s Eye Hike
  • Junior City Council of Cape Town
  • Equal Education Advocacy NGO engagement

*Based on prior year itinerary and subject to change.

Objective

You will wrap up your final week in Cape Town and work towards finalizing your presentations to show everything you have learned about the South African context on literacy and education. There will be supervised work sessions to support you with preparation of your final projects.

Highlights*

  • Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town
  • African Dance Class
  • Blue Bird Garage Food and Goods Market
  • Final Project Presentations
  • Safari Nature Reserve Game Drive

*Based on prior year itinerary and subject to change.

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. 

Housing

Hostel, shared rooms with other Global Navigators

Activities

Top Rated Activities

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Johannesburg Tour

You stand on Vilakazi Street, the only street in the world where two Nobel Prize winners once lived, imagining Nelson Mandela walking to his modest Soweto home. The air hums with history and resilience as you and your peers explore Mandela’s House, a place both personal and monumental. Later, the Apartheid Museum surrounds you with vivid exhibits that immerse you in South Africa’s complex and painful past. Constitution Hill adds a final, powerful chapter to this journey, its walls a testament to both oppression and the enduring fight for justice.

Over two days, Johannesburg becomes your classroom, its history and culture sparking deep reflections and inspiring conversations with friends. Guided by stories of struggle and triumph, you connect Mandela’s legacy to lessons of leadership and the collective power of community activism.

This experience inspires a passion for social change, preparing you for the service ahead and shaping your journey as a volunteer, student, and future global citizen.

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Local Library Service Work

The library buzzes with energy as children gather eagerly for storytime, their excitement spilling over with giggles and song as you and your fellow Global Navigators lead interactive activities. These toddlers, many from underserved backgrounds, look to you with wide-eyed wonder as you bring stories to life and guide them through engaging games and creative sessions. Every moment is full of joy, connection, and purpose.

The librarian shares the library’s many initiatives, from coding workshops to literacy programs, and explains how your work supports their mission. You’re not just reading books—you’re actively contributing to these impactful programs. From leading engaging games and supporting wellness initiatives to assisting with educational programs, your volunteer work inspires curiosity in children and addresses critical community needs. Every activity deepens your understanding of how community service can create meaningful change.

This experience fosters a commitment to service, leadership, and creativity. It may inspire your next volunteer project, enhance your college applications, or shape a future career in education, community work, or global development.

Testimonials

What Students Are Saying

  • "It was amazing getting to make real connections with people from my own country and the people of South Africa. I got to explore Cape Town and its places, not just the touristy parts of it." 

    Lila M., Global Navigator Alum

  • "Our spontaneous hike to Lion’s Head gave me a little bit of closure of my time in Cape Town. I truly didn't want to leave, so having a few quiet minutes to look out at the whole city was an experience in itself! Another memorable time was Food Jams, where we all just cooked, laughed (too much!), danced, and sang!" 

    Menatallah B., Global Navigator Alum

  • "I loved our trip to Soweto in Johannesburg. It was amazing to go there and everyone on the program enjoyed it." 

    Owen H., Global Navigator Alum

  • "The best thing was interacting with and learning from the local children. This allowed us to grasp a deeper understanding of their culture, and I really enjoyed it." 

    Alana S., Global Navigator Alum

Photo for blog post
From CIEE

Exploring the Cape Peninsula!

By Alexis Savas at CIEE

Our Global Navigators had the incredible opportunity to explore the Cape Peninsula and its spectacular wildlife! It was an action packed day full of hiking, sea life, boat rides, and... keep reading

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Earning a CIEE Global Navigator Scholarship is a prestigious honor that can help you stand out for years to come, especially on college applications! Plus, these scholarships give hundreds of... keep reading

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Eligibility

Eligibility

  • Participants must be 14 years old and above.
  • 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. 

For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

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
Program Summer Session I 2025 3 weeks Application Due Deadline Passed Start Date End Date Costs $4,950

Ready to change your life?

Enroll Today Contact Us

What's Included

Interactive Classes

Housing

3 Meals/Day

(Dietary Needs Accommodated)

All Ground Transportation

(Once In-country)

Optional Flight Chaperone

(Flight Cost Not Included)

Pre-departure Advice and Orientation

Access to WIFI

(No international data plan or SIM card included)

All Cultural Activities and Excursions

Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection

24/7 Emergency On-site Support

Staff

Our Staff

hssa-global-navigator-program-leaders.jpg

Program Leaders

Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.

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