Location
  • Online
Term
Short Term
Subject Areas
African Studies Arts Business Conservation and Preservation Criminal Justice Cultural Studies Dance Ecology Education Engineering Entrepreneurship Environmental Studies Gender Studies Global Studies Health Sciences History Human Rights Humanities International Business Language Studies Literature Medicine Natural Sciences Nursing Physical Therapy Political Science Public Health Service Learning Social Sciences Sustainable Development Wildlife Sciences Women's Studies +22

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Degree Level
High School Diploma
Language
English

Pricing

Price Details
Pricing will depend on program duration, number of participants, and program inclusions.
What's Included
Activities Classes
What's Included (Extra)

Program Development
Facilitation

Jul 29, 2021
Jul 20, 2021

About Program

At EDU Africa, we believe fundamentally in the power of connecting disciplines, histories, stories, and skills as a powerful movement for student transformation and positive global change.

Our innovative Virtual Exchange programs ensure that physical isolation does not hamper the learning and connection that come from physical study abroad. These customized programs will critically engage students with communities, industry professionals, and service projects in Africa, without ever needing to leave their homes.

Program options include:
- Co-investigation Clusters: Pre-designed, high-impact engagement sessions encouraging the process of co-investigative learning
- Custom Independent Virtual Exchange programs: Delivered entirely remotely
- Hybrid Virtual Exchange programs: Combining remote delivery and a travel component in Africa
- Embedded Virtual Exchange programs: Incorporated into traditional classroom delivery

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Increases reach and accessibility of the program outcomes to a broad number of students
  • Enables continued fostering of global collaboration and connectivity between African countries and the world
  • Learn to navigate cultural norms, language barriers, time zones and content on online platforms
  • Low health and safety risk, environmentally responsible, and cost-effective
  • Expert support from local program consultants, facilitators and technical team

Popular Programs

Street art in Johannesburg

Throughout history and across the world, the arts have been a vital tool in shaping responses to social justice issues. South Africa’s cultural diversity and distinctive social and political history has led to the development of a unique brand of artistic responses to the challenges it faces. This Virtual Exchange program allows students to intimately engage with socio-political responses across various art forms, including music, dance, theater, fine art, and street art.

Healthcare facility in Tanzania

This virtual exchange program introduces students to healthcare, particularly physical therapy, in Tanzania as it pertains to people with disabilities and/or special needs. Students will become acquainted with the various challenges persons with disabilities and/or special needs face with regard to access to healthcare and have the opportunity to engage with various professionals and organizations that work to address these challenges.

Kenyan dance & drumming performance

This virtual exchange introduces students to social identities, power, privilege, intersectionality, and diversity in post-colonial Kenya. They will gain an understanding of the institutions that governed and shaped identities in pre-colonial Kenya and investigate the ways in which these changed as a result of external colonial forces. Using literary, visual, and/or performing arts, students will explore the ‘big eight’ social identities.

Playing the mbira

This virtual exchange is an exploration of culture, community, identity politics, and social justice in the context of Zimbabwe. Students will examine the country’s colonial history, investigate the impact(s) it has had, be acquainted with leading social issues, as well as the social justice movements formed in response. They will study concepts such as individualism and collectivism, giving them the tools to comparatively discuss pertinent social issues on a more global scale.

African sunset

Africa as a continent is constituted by a rich mosaic of ecosystems that range from coastal, desert and semidesert, to savanna grasslands, forests and mountains. Each ecosystem has a specific climate, key conservation issues and its own unique context. This Virtual Exchange program takes students on a journey from South Africa, through Zimbabwe to Kenya, engaging them with local experts as they learn about the ecology and sustainable conservation strategies along the way.

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Program Reviews

9.7 Rating
based on 10 reviews
  • 9-10 rating 100%
  • 7-8 rating 0%
  • 5-6 rating 0%
  • 3-4 rating 0%
  • 1-2 rating 0%
  • Academics 9.4
  • Support 9.9
  • Fun 9.8
  • Housing 9.3
  • Safety 9.4
Showing 1 - 8 of 10 reviews
Default avatar
Naomi
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Most Engaging and Inspiring Online Program I've Ever Done!

I was part of the 'Social Transformation through Art & Activism in South Africa' virtual exchange program. We were given a great overview of South Africa's history and the opportunity to listen to the different stories of people who experienced the atrocities of Apartheid firsthand, which was such a privilege. Furthermore, there was a range of workshops, from learning various greetings in the local language, trying out gumboot dancing, writing poetry... to learning about the social impacts of conservation and graffiti murals, which broadened my perspective on what counts as effective 'activism'. The host of the sessions was so engaging, the South African students taking part readily gave such valuable insights into the topics we covered, and I was really struck by the sense of purpose all of the contributors approached their work with. It was a truly inspiring week!

11 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Cordelia
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Brilliant opportunity to learn more social justice issues in South Africa

I participated in the virtual programme 'Social Transformation through Art and Activism in South Africa'. It was very well organised and I was able to learn about social justice issues in South Africa directly from local artists, activists and academics. Rather than focusing on just one for of art, we learnt about art activism through various forms of expression, a personal favourite being the gumboot dance! It was a wonderful experience and I learnt a lot about how my own culture and identity had been influenced through the arts. I would strongly recommend this program to anyone looking to broaden their horizons, meet new people and gain a more global perspective.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
A major highlight was being able to hear from Lionel Davis, a visual artist, who was a prominent figure in the anti-apartheid movement. He was incarcerated for seven years on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela. It was certainly a unique experience!
10 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Diane
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Socially Impactful Engineering Design in a Virtual Space: South Africa

EDU AFRICA IS AMAZING!

This program was developed by EDU Africa and one of our Professors at the University of Pittsburgh, Swanson School of Engineering. We have gone to South Africa the past few years but were unable to go in 2021. EDU Africa created a life-changing program for our students focusing on socially empathic Engineering design and how engineers can create social change. We had US students interact with South Africa students and the overall program was an amazing opportunity to gain global understanding virtually. We were so happy with the results and so excited that we worked with EDU Africa. Desiree Haakonsen is an excellent international educator, facilitator, and program manager.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Hearing from a former political prisoner in South Africa talk about his time in Robbin Island and his journey. It was so surprising to see his peacefulness and his joy for art, and life.
13 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Ann
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Virtual Study Away to South Africa

When we discovered the "virtual" experiences that EDU Africa offered, we were eager to try this opportunity! We integrated this program into a graduate Museum Education and Interpretation class and met with educators from three museums in Cape Town. EDU Africa staff were exceptional in organizing these meetings and in helping to create projects that our students could do from abroad! Our class focus was on social justice issues, and students really appreciated hearing the important work of museum staff in South Africa.

16 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Suzanne
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Excellent Virtual Exchanges

EDU Africa is an amazing organization. Its staff is so dedicated to providing students with the ultimate African experience. Although we had to postpone our in person study abroad program, the four virtual exchanges we had were incredible. The sessions were well-planned, informative, and interactive. Seeing community college students in rural North Carolina interact with people in South Africa was so wonderful. Hearing from Christo Brand and Lionel Davis was witnessing living history. Highly recommend.

What was your funniest moment?
The students reacting to one of the South African storytellers eating a 'smiley.'
19 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Jeff
9/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Opening up worlds virtually

EDU Africa put together a program for us that allowed our students to experience new worlds in ways that they never have, or even would have thought to. We asked them to shape discussions around the UN Sustainable Development Goals and then to have our students talk with students in several African countries. It was truly transformative. It was in some ways better than many faculty-led study abroad programs (those that are basically enhanced tourist trips) because we met such a variety of people and perspectives in small groups. Having personal invitations to visit those countries made our students even more eager to travel. The connections with individuals was incredibly enriching.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Try to disentangle yourself from your preconceptions. Be open and ready to think from different perspectives.
21 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Emma
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Very interesting range of perspectives that really deepened student understanding

This was an 'online' experience that was put together in a short timeframe by EDU Africa as students could not travel. It was very interesting and expansive, and had a great range of guests. Students really deepened their understanding, and I enjoyed hearing the different first person perspectives. We had such a great range of guest speakers, from city officials, to people living in different communities, and local academics and experts. Very good alternative to actual travel, and the students would love the opportunity to visit in real life.

22 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Julie
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

South Africa - Virtual Study Abroad

Our South Africa Virtual Study Abroad programs in spring of 2021 really excited our students and faculty. Not being able to travel abroad has been a challenge in our office so we pivoted to virtual programming. The 4 part series was extremely well attended and gained momentum and interest for the study abroad program the college will run for 2022. My personal favorite was the storytelling series and hearing from local South Africans about various topics. We cannot wait to duplicate these events this upcoming academic year!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Being able to speak with Nelson Mandela's prison guard was unique, powerful and impactful!
22 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers