| Event | Date |
| Information Session Recording | Tuesday, September 23 (1-2pm PT) McCone Boardroom |
| Application Deadline | October 1 (applicants notified by Oct. 15) |
| Applicants Confirm Attendance ($250 program fee due) | One Week After Admission |
| PreDeparture One (Overview of Topic and Expectations) | Friday, October 24 (1-3pm PT) |
| PreDeparture Two (Case Study with SA guests) | Friday, November 14 (8:30-10:00am PT) on Zoom |
| PreDeparture Three (Intercultural Competence and Conflict Transformation Training) | Friday, December 5 (1-3pm PT) |
| Travel Registration Due | November 15 |
| Program Dates | January 8-23, 2026 |
| Re-Entry Reflection Session | February (time TBD) |
Proposed Itinerary
The final schedule will be available closer to the start of the program.
Week 1: Johannesburg – Understanding History and Inequality
This week is centered in Johannesburg, focusing on South Africa’s history of apartheid and its enduring legacy of structural violence and urban inequality.
- Days 1-2 (Jan 8-9): Arrival and Introduction
- Arrive in Johannesburg and check-in.
- Settle in with a group welcome dinner and a brief orientation session.
- Begin your cultural and historical programming with a walking tour of Johannesburg and a visit to a local market, followed by a visit to the Origins Centre at WITS to learn about early human history.
- Days 3-4 (Jan 10-11): Apartheid’s Legacy
- Your learning deepens with a visit to the Apartheid Museum, which will serve as the central theme for the day.
- Participate in a guided tour of Sandton and the neighboring Alexandra Township to understand how spatial apartheid created modern urban inequality. You’ll have the opportunity to engage with residents of Alexandra.
- Days 5-6 (Jan 12-13): Institutional Reform
- Visit Constitution Hill and the Constitutional Court to study South Africa’s legal framework for peacebuilding.
- These days are also dedicated to seminars, site visits, and critical reflection sessions to process the historical and social themes you’ve engaged with.
- The group participate in a workshop with Rivonia Circle on fostering civic engagement and addressing national challenges through citizen empowerment.
Week 2: Durban and Rural KwaZulu-Natal – Contemporary Challenges and Transformative Possibilities
The second week shifts focus to contemporary challenges and grassroots solutions. It involves travel to different regions to experience both urban coastal life and rural community development.
- Day 7 (Jan 14): Travel to Durban
- Fly to Durban, a coastal city, and spend the evening on a city tour.
- Days 8-9 (Jan 15-16): Free Time in Durban
- Enjoy a free day to explore Durban’s unique culture and environment.
- Days 10-11 (Jan 17-18): Partnership with Mpilonhle
- Travel to Richards Bay and check in.
- Begin your partnership with Mpilonhle, an organization dedicated to youth health and social development.
- Participate in training and project work, which will give you hands-on experience in their community-based initiatives.
- Day 12 (Jan 19): Project and Synthesis
- Continue with your project work with Mpilonhle.
- Conclude the day with group reflections and a synthesis session to tie together the themes from both Johannesburg and Richards Bay.
- Enjoy a closing group dinner to celebrate your learning journey.
Day 13 (Jan 20): Departure
- Depart from Richards Bay for the airport, concluding the program.
