Submitted by Drew DaVia on the 2018 winter session program in South Africa sponsored by the Department of Human Development and Family Studies…
We have been just as busy during the second week as we were in the first, and have been immersed in so much culture. I’ve been blown away by the scenery surrounding us everywhere we travel, and have been blessed to experience more first hand through the hikes we went on in Blyde Canyon. We also had opportunities to experience traditional aspects of the country through participating in African dancing, drumming and singing. There has been much more to this program than pretty views and fun experiences though, especially this week. I say this because this week we really delved into the local community health aspects of this nation. Just like many other countries, South Africa is plagued heavily by issues of drug abuse/addiction, domestic violence, rape, HIV/AIDS, and many other social and health issues; which all appear to be direct results of poverty derived from structural injustice. We have visited hospitals, clinics, courtrooms, a police station, orphanages and much more; but what stood out to me were the people dedicating their lives to better the situation of their nation. There are many strong men and women here who are making sacrifice after sacrifice to give back to their communities in terms of safety and health. The sad reality is that they are fighting an uphill battle in many situations, but are without a doubt making progress a day and a person at a time. It’s truly inspiring to see humans so devoted to other humans. This program has made me realize how blessed we are in America, but also how ignorant to how much we have compared to others. You can never really understand until you see it firsthand, and I have seen the true colors of this exotic land. Amid vast amounts of negativity there is hope in the hearts of many proud people who are willing to do whatever necessary to better life for the generations after them. In other words, there is much more beauty to see here than the scenery, which says a lot!
