Leadership & Service Through Mandela's Example
Why Choose This Program?
Explore
Have fun discovering the natural beauty of South Africa.
Network
Meet new friends and NGO leaders. Build your own community.
Get Inspired
Gain hands-on leadership skills through community projects. Come home ready to take action.
The Destination
Welcome to South Africa, a land of breathtaking natural beauty and a microcosm of African countries in transition.
Cape Town, a port city located on the southwestern tip of South Africa, attracts visitors from every corner of the world. It offers stunning beaches and views from the flat-topped Table Mountain, a World Heritage site that towers over the city and its busy harbor. Nicknamed “The Mother City,” Cape Town is modern and sophisticated. It’s known for its diversity in art, dance, music, food, and culture—12 official languages, including South African Sign Language, are spoken here. The city continues to grapple with vast socioeconomic inequalities inherited from its colonial and apartheid past. It has progressed, but NGOs are still hard at work promoting equality through community projects.
Cape Town is bursting with energy. Its shops, food markets, and the lively waterfront on the edge of the city’s harbor are the places to be when you’re not out on the water or exploring the nearby Cape Peninsula to catch a glimpse of African penguins.
Cultural Awareness
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Cape Town.
Sample Itinerary
Top Rated Activities
Two-day Johannesburg Tour
You stand on Vilakazi Street, the only street in the world where two Nobel Prize winners once lived, imagining Nelson Mandela walking to his modest Soweto home. The air hums with history and resilience as you and your peers explore Mandela’s House, a place both personal and monumental. Later, the Apartheid Museum surrounds you with vivid exhibits that immerse you in South Africa’s complex and painful past. Constitution Hill adds a final, powerful chapter to this journey, its walls a testament to both oppression and the enduring fight for justice.
Over two days, Johannesburg becomes your classroom, its history and culture sparking deep reflections and inspiring conversations with friends. Guided by stories of struggle and triumph, you connect Mandela’s legacy to lessons of leadership and the collective power of community activism.
This experience inspires a passion for social change, preparing you for the service ahead and shaping your journey as a volunteer, student, and future global citizen.
Elsie's River Library Service Work
The library buzzes with energy as children gather eagerly for storytime, their excitement spilling over with giggles and song as you and your fellow Global Navigators lead interactive activities. These toddlers, many from underserved backgrounds, look to you with wide-eyed wonder as you bring stories to life and guide them through engaging games and creative sessions. Every moment is full of joy, connection, and purpose.
The librarian shares the library’s many initiatives, from coding workshops to literacy programs, and explains how your work supports their mission. You’re not just reading books—you’re actively contributing to these impactful programs. From assisting with coding workshops to leading educational games and supporting wellness initiatives, your volunteer work inspires curiosity in children and addresses critical community needs. Every activity deepens your understanding of how community service can create meaningful change.
This experience fosters a commitment to service, leadership, and creativity. It may inspire your next volunteer project, enhance your college applications, or shape a future career in education, community work, or global development.
Exploring the Cape Peninsula!
Our Global Navigators had the incredible opportunity to explore the Cape Peninsula and its spectacular wildlife! It was an action packed day full of hiking, sea life, boat rides, and... keep reading
How To Write a Great Scholarship Application Essay
Earning a CIEE Global Navigator Scholarship is a prestigious honor that can help you stand out for years to come, especially on college applications! Plus, these scholarships give hundreds of... keep reading
10 Benefits of Studying Abroad in High School
Get inspired by reading the top 10 benefits of studying abroad and why high school is the perfect time to consider it!
Eligibility
- Participants must be 14 years old and above.
- Program open to all current high school students: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.
- For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our Scholarship page.
- This program involves engaging in moderate to high intensity physical activities, such as hiking and extended observational time outdoors.
For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.
Dates & Fees
Application Fee
$25
Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.
More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations or contact us.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Summer Session I 2025 3 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $4,950 | |
| Program Summer Session II 2025 3 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $4,950 |
Ready to change your life?
What's Included
Interactive Classes
Housing
3 Meals/Day
(Dietary Needs Accommodated)
All Ground Transportation
(Once In-country)
Optional Flight Chaperone
(Flight Cost Not Included)
Pre-departure Advice and Orientation
Access to WIFI
(No international data plan or SIM card included)
All Cultural Activities and Excursions
Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection
24/7 Emergency On-site Support
Our Staff
Nompilo Ndlovu
Center Director
Dr. Nompilo Ndlovu has over a decade of experience working within the academic, policy and non-profit sectors, focused on the African continent.
Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.
You might also like
- Legon, Ghana
- Social Change
Care for children in need through school or after-school programs.
- Homestay
- Service-learning: 50 hours
- Mohammedia, Morocco
- Leadership
Mentor local youth, raise social awareness, and engage in creative activities with a friendly cross-cultural community.
- Homestay
- Service-learning: 50 hours
- Gaborone, Botswana
- Social Change
Assess the health needs of local communities in Botswana, an African nation making great strides in public healthcare.
- Homestay
- Service-learning: 50 hours