We're on the way to Africa this month! Click here to follow us us on our blog!
Matamzana Dube School dancing Nov2007
In the summer of 2009, 15 people joined ACC Chair Henry Bromelkamp and Vice Chair Barb Ryan on a trip to South Africa and Malawi to visit school building sites (www.africaclassroomconnection.org) and Books for Africa (www.booksforafrica.org) recipients. Our travellers kept a blog and we took some video.
Consider coming with us on our 2010 trip at the end of August or early September. We estimate the cost will be around $5500 including airfare, with $1000 of this being your tax-deductible contribution, so your visit will help build new classrooms. We know how powerful a first-hand view can be. Come with us and see the need, meet the people, see the potent impact a simple classroom can have on eager students. Our accommodations range from simple to very nice – all are clean and safe. The itinerary includes some flights within Africa, and a few drives of several hours in large passenger vans. Our anticipated itinerary is:
Arrival and overnight in Durban, South Africa
Four days in the region of Zululand near Eshowe, South Africa to visit school sites, meet and teach classes
Four days on safari in two wildlife parks: St. Lucia wetlands, and Hluhluwe large game park
Two days in Johannesburg and Pretoria, including Soweto and the Apartheid Museum
Four days in Malawi (recommended), including the capital Lilongwe, Lake Malawi, Mua Mission and Museum, and perhaps Zomba the original capital
Cape Town (not included but a worthwhile add-on)
Our trips are not a conventional package tour of Africa. While we will see wild animals on safari (a treasure of Africa!) most of the trip will be philanthropic and cultural. Seeing the need first-hand has a significant impact on those who join us. You will meet wonderful people and learn about the promise and challenges of education. Imagine 300 Zulu school children putting on a dance and music performance for their American visitors! Imagine trying to explain ice fishing or snow to high school students who have never experienced freezing weather. You will be surprised. You will have fun. You will see the world in a new way.
Our trips are preceded by some cultural, historical, and language learning opportunities. (Most people speak English, but it is respectful and interesting to know some of the local language, especially when we meet young children.) It’s helpful for you to be aware of the health, political, and economic issues that challenge our African neighbors.
Here are some video links from YouTube of our November 2007 group trip to South Africa:
Let It Shine in Zululand
Ingoma boys dance at a South African school in Zululand
Boys dance
Xavier embarrasses a girl in Zululand
Is this enough to pique your interest?
Please contact us to let us know your level of interest in order to for us to make planning decisions: for example, are you 50% likely to go, or 80% likely to go? Tell us 0% and we’ll remove you from future informational mailings. View our 2010 travel agreement for more details about the trip.
We look forward to sharing with you the places and people we cherish.
A class outdoors needs a school so it can meet in all weather, and keep educational materials safe from the elements.
