Nate Whittaker, an academic adviser in CEHD’s TRiO student support services, leads a global seminar to South Africa, where students learn about social justice firsthand by participating in service learning with South African nonprofit organizations. Students who participated in last winter’s seminar were inspired to give back to these organizations, and through creative fundraising activities they collected $1,475 for Educo Africa and Afrika Tikkun.
Educo Africa works to reconstruct a culture of human rights and dignity, redirect young people towards positive life-goals, counteract the impact of HIV/AIDS, serve survivors of crime and violence, and support attitudes around the environment. They worked with the University students in developing group cohesion and thinking about best ways to “come in right” to South African townships as American students. Afrika Tikkun is an international NGO that provides education, health, and social services to children, youth, and their families through centers of excellence in South African Townships. The students did 20 hours of service with Afrika Tikkun in Delft Township during the global seminar.
Whittaker is traveling to Cape Town this month and will deliver the funds to the organizations.