Spring Break in South Africa

During this one-week program, students will experience:

• a guided tour of the District Six Museum
• leading App Development Workshops at Philisa Abafazi Bethu Centre
• leading Hands-on Science Labs at Philisa Abafazi Bethu Centre
• a guided tour of the Iziko Slave Lodge
• a guided tour of Robben Island
• a guided tour of Table Mountain with the Aerial Cableway

*These activities are subject to change based on availability when booking.

To apply: Please click on the “Apply Now” button in the overview section and fill out all of the information requested.

Application deadline: ​​​​​​​October 15th
Decision date: October 16th
Deposit: $575 (non-refundable) due by November 1st to hold your place in the program.
Final payment deadline: $3,790 by spring tuition and fees spring deadline

Participants will only get 3 credit hours from this program. Students will pick the one course from the list below that best fits their academic plan.

3 credit hours each:

CSL 210– International Service Learning: Introduction to App Development

EGR 292– Special Topics: Introduction to App Development for International Service Learning

EGR 492– Special Topics: App Development for International Service Learning

ECE/SSE 592– Special Topics: Advanced App Development for International Service Learning

SCIE 100 – Methods of Scientific Investigation

Course Description

Anchor course in several academic disciplines that has been paired with a global service-learning experience.
Offers students a global service-learning experience opportunity in the context of Cape Town, South Africa. Students will research the history and culture of South Africa and share their findings with class.
Will introduce students to the principles of effective service learning and explore the topic of intercultural engagement.

Students will also learn how to develop and publish mobile apps (including mobile games) as well as develop lessons for general science labs. Students will assist in teaching mobile app development and hands-on science labs to youth at a South African partner organization.

Course Objectives

Learning Objectives – Upon successful completion of this course, you will:

• Build mobile apps using blocks.
• Assist in teaching app development in an international service-learning setting.
• Assist in teaching hands on science labs in an international service-learning setting.
• Learn how to make oral presentations to the class.
• Learn about South Africa, principles of effective service learning, and intercultural engagement

Service-Learning Objectives – Through this course, you will be provided with the opportunity to:

• Gain an opportunity to provide meaningful service to communities as part of a service-learning process, and learn a number of practical skills for this purpose
• Develop the ability to reflect on both self and others as learners and as practitioners and to develop skills and processes to aid this reflection process.
• Develop an understanding of what service means to you, and how to locate yourself within this practice
• Deepen your understanding of the concepts of service, (global) citizenship and social change, as well as their interrelationship.

Scholarship opportunities:

• Gilman Scholarship*
• Global Leader Scholarship
• ​​​​​​​Fund for Education Abroad

*Please contact Emily Dunn, the Assistant Director of Global Education, before applying to the asterisked scholarship opportunities at dunn_ea@mercer.edu.