Nation Building, Globalization,
and Decolonizing the Mind

(Offered both Fall and Spring Semesters)

 

For a more comprehensive description of the facilities, people, places and pictures you can download our PDF or PowerPoint. The PowerPoint is a larger download, so it may take a while.

 

The program begins with an orientation in Windhoek, Namibia. 
Our study center houses serves as the base for the program

 

 

Modest rooms are shared by students.
 

Windhoek is a modern city of 250,000 located in the center of Namibia. 
The city reflects the German colonial influence, as well as the impact
of apartheid and South African occupation.

 

 

 

Urbanus Dax, right, introduces a homestay family

who has hosted students since 1994

 

Student with homestay family

 

The 5th and 6th weeks of the program are spent traveling in Namibia's rural areas.  Students live with families in a rural community for about 8 days.  Generally during this time, they have one day of formal academic programming, and on the last day have a goodbye gathering with all families.

 

After the rural homestay, students visit Etosha National Park

to process the experience (and view game, of course!).

 

 

Time is also spent in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay,

on the Atlantic Coast, an area that's well known for its immense sand dunes. 

 

 

 

 

Students return to Windhoek for several weeks. 

Time is spent in classes, meeting with community members,

and volunteer projects or internships.
 

Meetings are held with speakers from the communities

 

Students often visit the Catholic AIDS organization where they learn about its work. 

Some students also volunteer or do internships on a longer term basis

 

Students at the Moses Garoeb School where some students have

done internships or volunteer work

 

Staff at "The Big Issue," a street newspaper.  The Big Issue project aims to help homeless, long term unemployed and destitute people to regain their self esteem, to achieve economic independence and to facilitate their regeneration into mainstream society

 

A highlight of the program is the travel seminar to South Africa.  It is an opportunity for students to gain a comparative perspective within the region.  The first week is spent in Johannesburg.  The students have homestays with families in Soweto, and the days are filled with academic programming such as visiting museums, local organizations and hearing from speakers.

 

Molefi Mataboge hosts the semester group in Johannesburg

 

Students in front of the South Africa Parliament

 

Speakers talk about land reclaimed by their tribe.
 

Students then go to Cape Town, continuing to study the history,
economics, politics, and development issues of South Africa.

 

 

Cape Town is a beautiful city of mountains and sea

 

Visit to the Mayiibuye Archive Centre at the University of Western Cape

documents South Africa's struggle against apartheid

 

Vicky opened her own bed and breakfast in Khayalitscha

in order to educate people about township life

 

Nearby Cape Point is where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet

 

Students return to Windhoek to wrap up classes.  They each present their culminating independent project which they have been preparing throughout the semester.  These projects are integrative and form a large percentage of the students' grade in each course.  The final retreat is a time in which the program is wrapped-up, and issues of culture shock and re-entry are discussed.

Student at her internship site