The centerpiece of the annual August tour is South African Women's Day, August 9. We celebrate the post-apartheid inclusion of women in government, in the workforce and as leaders in communities.
South Africa has one of the highest proportions of women in government in the world which reflects the broad level of women's participation in the liberation of the country. Women were leaders in the African National Congress and in local communities and fought against apartheid and to build a democratic state.
Despite this impressive achievements, women remain disempowered with black women at the bottom of every statistic. We will examine the challenges women face such as income disparities and racialised poverty, gender-based violence and high rates of HIV/AIDS.
In visits to organizations, offices, homes and institutions, participants will meet with women from all walks of life: from grassroots activists to professional women, community care workers to elected officials.

Program Highlights:

• Visit the urban areas of Johannesburg and Cape Town and the townships and peri-urban areas which surround them
• Learn about women's contribution to the struggle for democracy at the Women's Jail and Apartheid Museum.
• Participate in the national Women's Day festivities.
• Meet with leading women activists and organisations working to improve gender relations and the status of women, People Opposing Woman Abuse, Men as Partners, Women's Legal Centre and the Forum for Women's Empowerment.
• Meet representatives of provincial and local government responsible for issues affecting women.
• Enjoy lively cultural presentations and artistic exhibitions at the Women in Arts Festival and meet with cultural workers, artists and performers contributing to the explosion of South African music, dance, theatre and spoken word.
• Explore the HIV/AIDS issue in meetings with activists, health care and other service providers such as the Treatment Action Campaign, AIDS Law Project and Positive Women.
• Learn about issues facing rural women and farmworkers from the Surplus People Project.
• Meet with grassroots empowerment projects including community gardens, income generation and crèches such as Itsoseng Women's Project
• Visit important sites of resistance during apartheid and places of continued inspiration for South Africa's new democracy such as Robben Island, Hector Peterson Memorial, Constitution Hill and the District Six Museum.
• Take in the natural beauty of the country at Cape Point and Table Mountain and animals in the wild at the Pilanesburg Game Park.
• Support women's empowerment by purchasing directly from women's projects and township producers of local crafts.

Cost: $2,950

Price Includes:

• In-country air and ground transportation
• Double-room accommodations (NOTE: Add $400 for single room!)
• Two meals/day (breakfast & dinner)
• All program activities
• Entrance fees, trip leader(s), guides and translators
• Reading materials and personal meetings to suit your particular interests (as available).
• International airfare, lunches, tips and personal expenses are not included.
  
• When booking your flight to South Africa: book your flight so that it arrives in Johannesburg and departs from Cape Town!!

How to Register:

In some cases, a limited number of partial scholarships are available for low-income applicants.

Make your reservation online now!

Contact Alessandro with any questions about this trip, or call toll-free 1-800-497-1994 ext. 225.