HIV/AIDS Education in Africa (South Africa)

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This program is designed to provide participants with first-hand experience of the HIV/AIDS crisis in South Africa, as well as an experience of the prevention and awareness efforts currently underway by various stakeholders.
The program will give participants the unique opportunity to benefit from being embedded with non-governmental organizations engaged in HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention initiatives. Participants can expect to become familiar with the skills necessary for successful HIV/AIDS program planning and implementation and gain practical understanding and experience of the impact of HIV/AIDS and a society's response to the pandemic.
The program has an experiential focus and a significant portion of the learning will occur through cultural immersion and active participation. This program will be primarily coordinated by Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Program dates
July 17 - August 17

Eligibility and selection process
This program is open to graduate students. Upper-level undergraduate students with relevant interest or experience will be considered. Successful participants must have an interest in HIV/AIDS or experience researching/working in HIV/AIDS-related areas. A minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 is required.

Students who have a judicial record and will be on probation for a judicial offense at any point during the program may petition to study abroad. Click here to read the entire judicial policy.
This program ACCEPTS Non-Ohio University students.

Application deadline
February 22

Living arrangements
Students will live in NMMU approved apartments in Port Elizabeth. The apartments offer access to restaurants, laundry services, shops, public transport, and the beach. All units are fully furnished two bedroom apartments with a shared kitchenette, shared bathrooms, and an open living area. Students will be required to purchase their own electricity and internet access and usage, which is standard in South Africa. Security services operate overnight and there are cleaning services twice weekly.

Courses and credits
Graduate students will enroll in 9 credit hours, selecting from the following courses:

EDCE 6910 Field Experience in Counseling

EDCE 6930 Readings & Research

INST 6930 Independent Studies

Undergraduate students will enroll in 9 credit hours, selecting from the following courses:

EDAD 4200 Comparative Cultures and Education

INST 1100 Modern Africa

INST 2100 Africa’s Children

Highlights

Engage in applied learning through prominent HIV/AIDS organizations.
Gain practical experience in HIV/AIDS communication initiatives.
Direct contact with community members and outreach workers.
Enjoy lectures and seminars from experts at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
Immerse yourself in South Africa's culture and traditions.
Immense networking opportunities with relevant people and organizations.
Visit national game parks, scenic and historical sites.

Excursions*
Students will participate in the following:

A weekend farm stay. The farm-stay will give students insight into rural life in South Africa.
A visit to Kragga Kamma Game Park.
Visit to the Grahamstown Arts Festival which is located at Rhodes University in Grahamstown. This is one of the major international events occurring in South Africa and will be a great opportunity to be exposed to the South African culture through the arts.
A visit to ADDO Elephant National Park

*excursions are subject to change.

Costs

Additional Information on South Africa
To learn more about this study abroad destination, please visit the CIA World Factbook.

Health and safety
Ohio University Office of Education Abroad suggests you follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control for healthy travel to your destination: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list.aspx. Please familiarize yourself with these recommendations and requirements prior to applying to a program.

Refer to the State Department site for information related to safety and security at this destination: http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html.

Requesting accommodation for disabilities
If you plan to participate in an Ohio University-sponsored study abroad program and wish to request accommodation, you should contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) to schedule an appointment to complete an Education Abroad Disability Accommodation Request Form. We recommend you do this as early as possible to allow sufficient time to determine what accommodations may be made for this program.

Entry and exit requirements
U.S. citizens are required to have a valid U.S. passport when traveling outside of the United States. If you plan to study or travel abroad in the next year, apply for your passport now: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html. Travelers are advised to have two blank pages to enter South Africa.

Some countries also require a visa to legally enter and reside in the country. Entry and exit requirements for this country can be found at http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html. US citizens won’t need a visa or other special documents to enter the country for the length of this program. You may need to show sufficient funds to support yourself while in-country. Please also note that visa requirements may vary if you plan to stay in the country longer than the program dates or travel to other countries during or after the program. Please familiarize yourself with these recommendations and requirements prior to applying to a program.

For more specific visa related information please visit OEA's Visa Information Page.

Information for NON-US citizens can be found here.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Yegan Pillay
E-mail: pillay@ohio.edu

Office of Education Abroad
E-mail: education.abroad@ohio.edu
Phone: 740-593-4583