CIEE HS Summer Abroad: Leadership & Service in Cape Town

Take action with community leaders to bring Nelson Mandela’s legacy to life.

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 the 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 non-governmental organization (NGO) initiatives—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 basic isiXhosa language 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.