South Africa

Cape Town is a beautiful port city on South Africa’s southwest coast, with a colorful mix of cultures, cuisines and landscapes. It is located beneath the famous flat-topped Table Mountain and is nirvana for any outdoor enthusiast and nature lover.

In this program, there is much to absorb, digest and reflect upon by digging deep into South Africa's colonial past, the turmoil of the apartheid era to the country’s fledgling democracy.

Learn

This program is an intensive and interactive study abroad and service experience where you engage with the culture, food, lifestyle, history, current social challenges, and opportunities. Learn first-hand, through coursework, expert lecturers, service projects, and site visits and excursions. Cape Town is your classroom in South Africa!​.

• Community Organizing and Social Activism (COSA) - Apartheid's Footprint
• Ethics and Community Health in South Africa
• Language Across the Curriculum (Zulu, Afrikaans, or other tribal language study plus an Independent Study Project)

Serve

Address real human needs. Build new relationships with locals as you work side-by-side, serving those in need. South Africa is a tremendously diverse population and blend of ethnicities, culture, skin color, languages, religion, and socio-economic levels. Volunteer opportunities may be available in:

• Homelessness, Mental Health, Addiction, and Recovery
• Job Training for the Homeless population
• Food Security and Urban Gardens
• Youth Development
• Education
• Medicine/Health
• Social Services
• Criminal Justice
• Refugee assistance

As you work with local people, you will find your experience and understanding of the culture enriched and deepened, your leadership skills developed, and your language skills enhanced. Your placement will be determined by community and organizational needs, as well as your interests, goals, and skills.

Live​

IPSL students are placed in a large house with private bedrooms, shared baths and a full kitchen within an Eco-Village conveniently located within Cape Town city. The village is a collective of several NGO's doing different work within the region and serving different populations. It is an intentional community that engages with local social development efforts.

Meet Andrew, the IPSL Program Director in South Africa

 Andrew was born and raised in Cape Town during the height of apartheid, an era that profoundly shaped his worldview. Early friendships with people of color, time spent in marginalized communities, and a growing discomfort with nationalism and racial injustice led to a deep personal awakening. Refusing compulsory military service as a conscientious objector, Andrew took a principled stand against the apartheid regime—an act that laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to equity, dignity, and freedom for all.
 
He holds a Higher Diploma in Education from the former Cape Town College of Education and has spent over 30 years working across Africa in education, leadership, and social development. Alongside his work with IPSL and his dedication to leadership mentorship, Andrew currently runs a learning center for teenagers. There, he provides a holistic education that nurtures academic excellence, a deeper awareness of the world, environmental responsibility, and a commitment to giving back to society.
 
At the heart of Andrew’s philosophy is Ubuntu— “I am because you are.” This principle continues to guide his unwavering dedication to community, justice, and service. His collaboration with Westminster University and IPSL creates opportunities to share Africa’s complex and beautiful story with visiting students. Together, they explore the interconnectedness of histories and the transformative potential of empathy, reflection, and shared purpose in building a more just, peaceful, and united humanity.