COUNTRY INFORMATION
Apartheid, which means “separateness” in Afrikaans (a language derived from the Dutch), was a system of racial segregation in South Africa that was legally enforced by the National Party government from 1948 to 1994. However, the injustice and mistreatment of non-whites in South Africa had been occurring since the colonial times under Dutch rule.
For decades South African law divided people into four categories: Africans (black), whites, coloreds (mixed ethnicities), and Asians. The National Party determined who each group could marry, where they could live, work and level of education they were allowed to receive.
The severe inequality not only sparked increased uprisings and protests, but led political activist Nelson Mandela to respond violently at times to take action in ending apartheid.
The former South African president was instrumental in abolishing racial oppression and inspired a dived nation to reconcile, however, the country is still a long ways from overcoming the extreme brutality that was forced upon so many of its people. Tensions between the once disjoined groups still exist and millions are currently unemployed leaving an alarming amount of citizens in terrible poverty.
Volunteers are greatly needed in health care—South Africa has a high amount of people living with HIV/AIDS, empowering women—many are victims of domestic violence and preserving the environment and wildlife.
If you’ve volunteered in South Africa we’d love to hear about your experience. Please let us know which organization you signed up with, what your trip was like and if you’d recommend the program to others.