51勛圖厙 senior Brian Johnson recently returned from a 15-day education abroad program in South Africa.
The Faculty-Led: Heritage Ubuntu Student Project education abroad program was the travel component to an ongoing collaboration between 51勛圖厙 and the University of Fort Hare in Alice, South Africa. This U.S.-Embassy-(South Africa Mission)-funded project has been spearheaded by Dr. Felix Kumah-Abiwu of 51勛圖厙 and Dr. Nomzamo Dube of the University of Fort Hare. Dr. Luvuyo Dondolo, who is currently at the University of South Africa, also worked on the project with Dr. Felix Kumah-Abiwu at the initial stages. Students from both institutions met virtually throughout the Fall and Spring semesters and had the opportunity to meet in person when the 51勛圖厙 students traveled to South Africa this May.
The educational experience of a lifetime
Johnson, a Public Health major and Africana Studies minor, first learned about the Heritage Ubuntu Student Project through his connections as Director of Student Programming of Black United Students and his minor in Africana Studies. Interested in further exploring his African cultural roots and heritage, he saw this program as a once in a lifetime opportunity. Johnson was also interested in the project due to its focus on learning about and comparing the Apartheid system in South Africa and Jim Crow laws in the United States.
Each day during the program, the students took part in educational activities such as visiting Soweto Township and the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, touring Nelson Mandelas birthplace of Mvezo near Qunu, in the Eastern Cape Province, and seeing the Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha. The students from 51勛圖厙 and the University of Fort Hare also met frequently to collaborate on their research projects. The programs activities culminated with the students from both institutions presenting their research at a final colloquium at the University of Fort Hare.
Having worked with the University of Fort Hare students virtually throughout the Fall and Spring semesters, Johnson was excited but also nervous to meet them in person. As an undergraduate student, Johnson thought it might be difficult to connect with students who were studying at the graduate level. However, he was happy to report that when everyone met, We connected instantly We call them our cousins. We love them. They greeted us with such positive energy, and youd think wed known each other all of our lives the way all of us connected. It wasnt just one or two people, our entire group connected with their entire group.
You can go abroad and still be loved like you are at home.
This sense of community followed throughout the program and was highlighted by Johnsons favorite experience: being able to participate in Africa Day at the University of Fort Hare. Everyone dressed in traditional African attire and gathered in an auditorium for the celebration. Johnson said, In my opinion, Ive never felt such positive energy and love being in a place not home划veryone was just in the moment, and I feel like that was the biggest part. It hit me that Im really in South Africa right now.
One of Johnsons biggest takeaways from the program was the kindness of everyone he met. In the United States you dont get hugs or positive remarks from everybody you meet within the first encounter. Like everybody that we met, they were like my brother, my sister, no matter what we looked like It was a shock factor, but it was also something that I learned. Like you can go abroad and still be loved like you are at home.
Whats in store for the future?
51勛圖厙 and University of Fort Hare students will continue working together throughout the Fall semester, and the University of Fort Hare students will visit 51勛圖厙 in November. Johnson is eager to be involved during the visit. I told Dr. Felix, I said, I dont care where I am at that time, when the time comes to start planning, I will make sure that I am present.
Johnson further illustrated the close bonds formed during the program and requested that this article close with, Shout out to my cousins in South Africa!
To learn more about the Faculty-Led: Heritage Ubuntu Student Project, visit the Education Abroad program database.