Home > Off-Campus Studies > Online Travelogues >


Jan. 8, 2008

Today we visited Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, where the first heart-transplant surgery was performed. We met with Dr. Sadiq Kariem, the CEO of the hospital, who told us of both his personal journey as a medical student during apartheid and of his work with HIV/AIDS treatment and directing the hospital. He explained how health activists have become political activists by their involvement in the African National Congress (governing political party) and their deeply-rooted convictions to change the system. For the second half of the day, we spent our time in the oldest Methodist church in use in South Africa, listening to the riveting message of Peter Storey, a bishop and member of the South African Council of churches as well as former chaplain to the prisoners of Robben Island. Storey recounted how the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was started, what we might learn from looking at South African history alongside our own American story, and the challenges of church leaders during apartheid. Most powerful was his telling of how the National Peace Accords worked during the period of transition.

Aftewards we had a bit of fun along the coast on our way home, visiting penguins along the Cape Peninsula and reflecting on this land of many contrasts.