The Honors College has arranged its first South African study abroad program for its students this summer from June 15 to July 13.
The four-week program will be based around community service in Red Hill, an informational settlement in Cape Town, and St. Lucia, a rural African community, said Jeremy Joiner, Honors College academic and enrollment adviser.
The students will focus on one-on-one work with children during the community service.
The first project will take place in a former “squatter” camp near Cape Town, where students will learn about the long-term consequences of apartheid, a former system of legal racial segregation, in an urban setting. In the second project, the students will observe the impact of apartheid land policies and gain a “better understanding of the current plight of African farmers trying to regain their land” in St. Lucia, Joiner said.
The students will visit several historical sites including Robben Island, the Apartheid Museum and the Malay Quarter, Joiner said.
Six University students are currently signed up for the program and will be joined by more students from schools in California. The study abroad program at the University of California System will run together with the Honors College and will include the same travel dates and accommodations, Joiner said.
Matt Landrieu, education sophomore and New Orleans native, said he originally wanted to attend school outside the state but was drawn to LSU’s Honors College. When Landrieu saw the Honors College had arranged a study abroad program for its students, he said he immediately signed up.
“It seems like a cool opportunity and a great chance to travel and experience a new culture,” Landrieu said.
During the summer, Landrieu said he will take two honors classes: one on South African history and one service-learning class based on the community work and projects.
“There are lots of communities there that don’t have the resources that we have in America, such as textbooks and paper,” Landrieu said. “Even though South Africa is developing, there are still poverty-stricken areas.”
Landrieu said he also plans to stay in South Africa for the fall semester and attend Stellenbosch University in Cape Town.
“My credits should transfer back to LSU, but either way, I’m not really worried about it,” Landrieu said. “I’m going for the cultural experience.”
Landrieu said he’s slightly nervous about being away from home for such a long time, but his overall attitude is positive.
“I don’t mind being outside of my comfort zone, though,” Landrieu said. “I’m really excited to get there. South Africa is a beautiful place.”
 
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Contact Kate Mabry at [email protected]