Furman University

The Spring 2010 trip traveled to South Africa, Namibia and Botswana and included four courses from the Departments of History, Religion, Psychology, and Sociology. The History course taught by Dr. Ellen Boucher focused on migrant labor issues and included a visit to Kimberly Diamond Mine in South Africa and archival work in Kimberly and Durban. The Religion course taught by Dr. Sam Britt focused on African Independent Churches and the role of Hinduism and Islam in South Africa. While in South Africa the group participated in a Shembe religious ceremony and visited several places of worship in Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The Psychology course taught by Dr. Erin Hahn focused on childhood development issues for children living in poverty and included a research project involving children at an orphanage in Namibia and visits to several schools. The Sociology course taught by Dr. Kristy Maher looked at global health inequalities and visited several public hospitals, private clinics and nonprofit organizations dealing with the main health concerns in Southern Africa (AIDS, TB and malaria). It also explored bushmen healing rituals and beliefs in Botswana.