WHY THIS PROGRAM?
SOUTH AFRICA WOW FACTORS
• Live and understand Africa first-hand
• Meals included for the entire program period
• Volunteering option included
• Social Science and Economic Studies
THE ATHENA TOUCH
What makes this Athena?
• LOCATION: One of the most multicultural cities in the world
• SIZE: Smaller customized Africa option
• PERSONAL: Engage with locals
ACADEMICS
ACADEMICS in SOUTH AFRICA
WHY WE PARTNER WITH EDU AFRICA:
EDU Africa, founded in 2003, shares the same vision as Athena that personalizing study abroad is the key to the best outcomes and experiences. They operate from four regional offices in Africa, and they offer authentic, hands-on and unique educational experiences.
EDU Africa is a fellow member with Athena in the Global Learning Collective, the first truly global consortium of educational organizations that share similar values, offer a personal connection to your in-country host partner, while providing on-the-ground expertise and local access in each region of the globe.
HISTORY:
Founded in 2003, EDU-Africa offers exceptional education experiences.
EXPERIENCE:
The Social & Economic Study Abroad program includes 60 hours of volunteering at a non-profit organisation, 36 hours of contact time where students will be guided through a carefully curated curriculum presented by a course convenor and relevant guest lecturers. There are an additional 20 hours of field trips providing students with the necessary context to understand contemporary South Africa and to gain first-hand experience of successful social and economic development initiatives.
HIGHLIGHT: Live and understand Africa first-hand
If you want to reflect about how countries and communities develop and what is meant by development and progress, South Africa is a great place to do it. South Africa has developed a strong civil society that attempts to address key challenges and many non-profit organizations are making significant gains.
COURSES
This program features one course: SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Courses have the following % breakdown:
| COURSES | General % Offered |
|---|---|
SOCIAL SCIENCES | 80% |
BUSINESS | 20% |
DESIREE HAAKONSEN
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Desireé studied at the University of Cape Town where she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Film and Media Production. Before joining the team at EDU Africa, she was a travel blogger, editor and social media ninja at TravelGround. “My desire to travel began when I was first able to reach the door handle on tippie toes – it was an ‘aha!’ moment when I discovered a bigger world out there.``
STUDENT LIFE
FIELD TRIPS & EXCURSIONS
Experiencing South Africa outside of the classroom is essential, so our program package includes visits and excursions that will allow you to get an even closer look at the African culture.
Educational site visits (included)
- Robben Island
- Slave Lodge
- District Six Museum
- Exploratory walking tours
Cultural activities (included)
- Cape Malay Cooking Class
- Table Mountain
- Stellenbosch Winelands
HIGHLIGHT:
Cape Town is blessed with both a strong history as well as scenic beauty. The city is located on the shore of Table Bay and is the oldest urban area in South Africa. Table Mountain on one side and Devil's Peak and Lion's Head on the other form a dramatic mountainous backdrop enclosing the central area of the town.
HOUSING
Housing Type: Guest House or Self-catering apartments
HIGHLIGHT: Meals Included
Unlike most study abroad options, meals will be covered on this South African program!
FAQS
Will I be able to travel?
Excursions are included! See above.
How many students are on the program?
Typically, 5-15 students, per term. The size of the program is kept small so that students get personalized attention from the instructors and advisors.
What is the food like?
Excellent! Traditional African food is generally cooked over an open fire or in a three-legged pot, so meat tends to be served in either stewed or grilled form. A starch and some vegetables usually accompany the meat.
Vegetarians: Athena’s resident vegetarian gives Cape Town a 6 out of 10 for being vegetarian friendly!
Can I request to room with my friend?
Yes! You can certainly request who you would like to have as your roommate. This is done after you are accepted into the program; you will note this in your housing request forms.
How do I get to Cape Town?
You will fly into Cape Town International Airport, in South Africa.
Do you provide flights?
We have partnered with STA Travel, an incredible student-focused travel agency. The good people there will be able to help all Athena students arrange flights overseas.
``Athena Study Abroad has done a wonderful job in figuring out logistics, settling us into the city, and giving us a multitude of enjoyable opportunities for adventure and exploration. We certainly took advantage of every opportunity that we could and seized the day every day... ``
Brad Kuntz
The University of Southern California
THE CITY
CITY HIGHLIGHTS
What’s Cape Town Like?
This program is based in Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Town is routinely awarded as one of the best cities in the world to visit, with its immense natural beauty, cultural diversity and rich history. The city is known by its most iconic landmark, Table Mountain, as well as various other points of interest including Cape Point Nature Reserve, Boulders Beach and the nearby Robben Island.
CITY PERKS
Cape Town is a vibrant, cosmopolitan and eclectic city, not to mention a beautiful one. Cape Town is a hub of social, cultural, historical and economic realities that define South Africa.
WEATHER
- MEDITERRANEAN: Cape Town has a Mediterranean-style climate: wet and cool winters, dry and warm summers. The annual average temperature is a delightful 62 (17 C) degrees.
- WINTER: Winter, which lasts from the beginning of June to the end of August, may see large cold fronts entering for limited periods from the Atlantic Ocean with significant precipitation and strong north-westerly winds. Winter months in the city average a maximum of 64 °F and minimum of 47 °F.
- MILD WINTERS: the coldest is June at 55°F with the most daily sunshine hours in December. The wettest month is July with an average of 100mm of rain.
MAP
DID YOU KNOW?
The only toboggan track in Africa is in Cape Town. These toboggans don’t run on the traditional snow and ice. Instead, they run on a stainless steel track!!
DID YOU KNOW?
Table Mountain is 1,860 meter high and it is estimated that every month at least two couples get engaged on top of Table Mountain.
