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June 9, 2005
Caring
for the Children
By Clint Fluker '08
The events that took place on June 9 were truly
life changing and easily some of the most memorable
experiences of my life. The highlight of my trip was
spending the last day with Oprah Winfrey. She is an
incredible woman, and I am forever appreciative of
the opportunity to be a part of this experience—four
weeks marked by the spirit of giving. Full
Story
June
8, 2005
An
Open Letter to Oprah Winfrey
By Dr. Walter Earl Fluker
Dear Oprah,
At the 2004 annual Morehouse College Gala, I shared
with you my dream of an International Leadership Program.
My dream was to reach out to South Africa in partnership
to fulfill a larger vision of placing Morehouse students
in a vibrant context to study global leadership issues
and challenges. Full
Story
June
7, 2005
Cry
for a beloved child
By T.J.
Prince '75
Today, on the last day of our tour of South Africa,
the Morehouse students spent their last hours of the
trip working at Etafeni, a daycare facility for AIDS
orphans in the Nyanga township of Cape Town. Full
Story
June
6, 2005
Blest
be the bricks that bind
By Rheba Knox
Circa 1840s, my maternal ancestors, the Motleys,
leave Danville, Va., for Tuskegee, Ala., as slaves.
As the family story goes, my great-great grandfather
was a slave trained as a brick mason and brick maker.
During January of each year, he was given "conditional
freedom" to hire himself out to work for white
folk in and around Macon County, Ala. After paying
a certain sum to his "owner" for the privilege
of working and earning an income, he saved the balance
of his earnings and, over a period of time, purchased
freedom for himself and his siblings.
Full
Story
June
5, 2005
Define
Yourself – Redefine the World
By Brian Buchanan '07
Throughout the course of the trip, there were many
poverty-stricken areas that we visited. In America
they are called ghettos. Here they are known as townships.
The sight of poverty in these places is unbelievable.
But what crushed my spirit was a comment made by a
9-year-old boy today at the McDonald’s. Full
Story
June
4, 2005
A
Higher View
By Bronson Edwards ‘07
Though I had
an excellent night's rest, I did not want to separate
myself from the bed when the alarm went off. Luckily,
I was able to extend my rest and nap longer than expected
on the bus. I was sound asleep on our two-hour trek
to the most beautiful place I have ever set foot on:
Cape Point, the southern-most point in South Africa
and the place where the Indian and Atlantic oceans
meet. Full Story
June
3, 2005
Saying
goodbye: Butler team leaves for U.S.A.
By Mark Rainey '05
Today was one of our more memorable days, and
strangely enough, it was a day when all our plans
were cancelled.
When we woke up this morning, it was pouring down
rain and our first day of community service at the
Etafeni Daycare Center was postponed until Monday.
What was special about this seemingly uneventful day
was that at the last hour we were able to spend time
with a crucial part of our group: the eight students
from Butler University. Full
Story
June
2, 2005
Don’t
Just Talk About it…Be About It
By William A. Moore '06
Today we visited the University of Cape Town's Student
HIV/AIDS Program (SHARP) and met with director Puleng
Phooko. I think this was one of our best program visits.
This program was interesting to me because it is taught
to freshmen during a period that is equivalent to
Morehouse College 's New Student Orientation session.
The program is a requirement integrated into the university's
curriculum. An important part of the program's purpose
is to address the stigma of students living with HIV.
Full
Story
June
1, 2005
Common
ground
By Brian Buchanan ’07
Today, I had a really good time at the International
Peace University of South Africa, where we had another
student forum. I think this experience was very powerful
because it was my first time getting to know Muslim
students' perspectives of America and of their country,
South Africa. Full
Story
May
31, 2005
Voyage
to prison brings understanding
By Clint Fluker ‘08
Making
the voyage to Robben Island was a very memorable experience.
Robben Island is the harsh prison where Nelson Mandela,
among other anti-apartheid activists, was sentenced
for his political involvement during the anti-apartheid
struggle.
What
was once a prison has now become a famous tourist
site where people can tour Section B and other areas
escorted by guides—all of whom are former prisoners.
Full
Story
Experiencing
Revelation
By Arthur Woodard '06
This
morning just felt good from the start.
My
friends call me Uncle Arthur all the time because
they say I act like an old man. While others are staying
up late talking, I'm asleep. I guess my nine hours
of sleep the night before had me feeling fresh and
rejuvenated. I awoke early and was off to the hotel
cafeteria to start the day with a fresh cup of coffee,
original that is, not decaffeinated. Full
Story
May
30, 2005
The
Critical Importance of “Staying Awake”
By Nashid Sharrief '06
Today, we will participate in another student forum
at the University of Western Cape. I was anxious to
have another forum because the students seem to be
more passionate about the crisis at hand—meaning
the HIV/AIDS pandemic and overall moral degradation—than
many of the members of church councils and nongovernmental
organizations that we have met. Full
Story
May
28, 2005
Remembering
the Past…Taking A Stand For the Future
By Jamison Collier '06
After four days of intense conversations, meetings
and forums, today, we ventured out on a tour of Soweto
(an acronym for Southwestern Township), and the Hector
Pieterson Museum. Full
Story
May
27, 2005
A
common vision for success
By Sandile Dlamini
First of all, I must admit that it was my first time
interacting with the people from the United States.
In my life, I never thought people from the States
would be able to talk with African people and have
a constructive dialogue with them—having pure
intentions in mind—and able to combine ideas
so as to pave the way to a bright future and hope
for all. Full
Story
May
26, 2005
Hard
questions, lacking answers
By Arthur Woodard '05
To
be completely honest, it was a struggle for me to
stay engaged in today’s activities. The weather—overcast
and rainy—was much colder than we’d experienced
in the past weeks here.
We were told we were going to leave at 7 a.m., so
we were all up early. But we didn’t leave until
9 a.m., which left a lot of us sleepy and disgruntled.
Full Story
May
25, 2005
Education
gives hope to Africans willing to build their communities
By Almamy Sagna '06
Today
was a very special day. We visited CIDA City Campus
in downtown Johannesburg. I had heard about the small
university in South Africa to which talk show host
Oprah Winfrey has donated money and was very committed
to—but only after today’s visit did I
fully understand the meaning of such a decision and
commitment. Full
Story
May
24, 2005
Spiritual
beliefs provide foundation for social justice
By Arthur Woodard '05
Today was spent with several leaders within the South
African Council of Churches (SACC). The SACC is the
facilitating body for a wide fellowship of churches
committed to expressing together—through proclamation
and programs—the united witness of the church
in South Africa. Full
Story
May
23, 2005
On
Religion & Spirituality
By Almamy Sagna '06
Today, we began the day at Rhema Bible Ministries,
which has a sister church in the U.S. The three presenters--a
public relations officer, the dean of Rhema Bible
College, and a director of one of the church's non-profit
organizations--talked about their respective areas
of work within Rhema and how the church is dedicated
to social change and community empowerment. Full
Story
May
22, 2005
Culture
Through the Eyes of Others
By Mark Rainey ‘05
Today, we visited the Lesedi cultural village where
I was terribly disturbed by the lack of realism. My
discomfort does not lie in the fact that their reenactments
of tribal life were simply not real, but I am disturbed
because that "showcase" is representative
of how Europeans awe filled interest in African culture
has jaded the meaning of its traditions. Full
Story
May
21, 2005
Town
& Country: A Natural Way of Seeing Things
By Clinton Fluker '08
Today we went to the game reserve. Though the ride
from our hotel to the reserve was quite long, it was
worth the trip because we were given the opportunity
to see a plethora of large and small animals such
as elephants, wildebeests and giraffes in there natural
habitat. Full
Story
May
20, 2005
Facing
the Challenges of Ethical Leadership
By Jamison Collier '06
When we visited the University of Pretoria to talk
to the program coordinators at its HIV/AIDS center,
there was a quote in the book given to us about males
and the virus.
Full Story
Different
Policies, Different Results
By Nashid Sharrief '06
Today we had a very busy and interesting day. First,
we went to the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria where we briefly
spoke with the head of the political section about
the political climate of the relationship between
South Africa and the United States. She said overall
they have a pretty good relationship. Full
Story
May
19, 2005
An
Apartheid Experience
By William A. Moore ’06
Today, we headed to the Apartheid Museum. I couldn’t
help but notice at the museum how Native Africans
struggles are very similar to the struggles of Native
Americans of the United States. White farmers named
Boers, as they were called, drove the Bushmen out
of their country and took their land. From then on,
there has been racial tension between blacks and whites
in South Africa. Full
Story
Where
Do We Go From Here?
By Bronson Edwards ‘07
As I reflected this morning over breakfast, I realized
that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I must
make the most of each and every opportunity because
I can learn something from each one. Full
Story
May
18, 2005
Expanding
my horizon
By Brian Buchanan '07
Traveling to distant countries to study abroad is
a life-changing experience. Traveling to South Africa
to study abroad to research HIV/AIDS will help facilitate
my general knowledge on the issues that affect everything—the
economy, culture, ethical leadership and the everyday
lives of human beings. Full
Story
May
17, 2005
Grateful
for the journey
By Arthur Woodard '05
Today was the day we departed from Atlanta, Ga., headed
for Johannesburg, South Africa. I swear, while being
dropped off at the airport by my cousin, Tonia, I
found myself getting full—very full—wondering
why a little ol' country boy from Lake Charles, La.,
was so fortunate to get the opportunity of a lifetime.
Full
Story
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