Amelia ecstatic with her internship at Africa Unite

On Sunday we finished our orientation by attending the Kirstenboch Gardens for an accapella concert featuring the band, The Soil. It was a breathtaking venue with beautiful flowers everywhere and an amazing view of the mountains behind the amphitheater. However it was really the environment and the people that made this place so special. Everyone came with adorable picnic baskets and families and friends from all over attended just to enjoy the beauty of the venue and the amazing music and loving atmosphere the band created. 

The following day I made my journey to begin my internship in the lovely city of downtown Cape Town at Africa Unite. Honestly when I first found out my internship was in the city I was pretty scared. During orientation we walked through the streets with people that have lived there their entire life and in between the cute small shops and bakeries people were nonstop begging us for money. Although we had so many security briefings by police and the US Consulate so I was overly paranoid about being in large public spaces. With all that being said after my first day I can say I’m ecstatic with my placement. Firstly, it’s located in a nice area downtown with many food options around the building and I love food so that’s always a plus. Secondly, the organization is amazing. It’s a human rights based organization that works with citizens, refugees and migrants to prevent conflicts, enhance social cohesion and promote socio-economic development throughout Africa. It’s extremely involved in the community and has after school programs for children from extremely poor townships so they get an opportunity to build their leadership skills. I was excited to find out that I have a particular school that I’m personally responsible for their success so it’s a big responsibility but I can’t wait to take on the challenge! We also visited the farm where the Human Rights Weekend excursion will be to figure out the logistics and to get familiar with the place so it was cool to begin the planning process seeing as all my peer educators will be able to see some of the work I’ve been doing so soon.

 Overall I’m just happy with my decision to choose this study abroad program. It’s extremely well thought out and it seems much more personal than any school program I’ve ever been apart of. For instance what program do you know that allows you to visit your professor’s mother’s house and engage and dance to the wonderful jazz music Cape Town is known for? I absolutely love how personal it is and how comfortable everyone tries to make you feel. This place is incredible and I can’t wait to learn even more about it!