CPUT’s well-established Service Learning Programme has caught the attention of the Study Abroad to Africa organisation.
The US based organisation provides American students of colour with the opportunity to study and work on the African continent.
The organisation has been placing students in Namibia and other parts of the African continent, but has their sights set on expanding their reach into South Africa and Botswana.
Recently a representative from the organisation, Miesha Hayden visited CPUT to discuss a possible collaboration between the two organisations.
“Statistics show students of colour has less chance to study abroad. And those who do get the opportunity are placed in Europe,” she says.
Impressed with CPUT’s Service Learning Programme, Hayden says it offers American students the perfect opportunity to plough back their skills in local communities as well as the opportunity to learn new skills.
“Community and Service Learning Programmes are very important to us,” she says.
Manager of Service Learning, Jaqueline Scheepers says CPUT has programmes running across the faculties, from teaching communities to garden to environmental health programmes.
Scheepers says the programmes are established and many run over several years, allowing students to continue, improve or add onto projects.
Director of the International Office, Merle Hodges, added her support saying she was looking forward to further discussions on how the organisations can collaborate.
