CSU Meets Africa: Community Building

During our CSU Meets Africa (May 20 to June 18, 2017) study abroad trip we worked with several groups of people throughout the Sotho community (In and around Qwa Qwa) to build awareness, build structures and build relationships.

 ART EDUC: Art and  South African Learners

We worked with 10 different schools and a school for the blind while in South Africa. Generally around Harrismith and Qwa Qwa areas. In each school we worked with secondary level learners.Our lessons were approximately an hour long sometimes two. In that lesson we demonstrated techniques learners could use to tell their story with the materials we provided. We shared our stories with each group of learners we worked with, to inspire them and to get to know them.

ART HIST: Native and contemporary artists

We met and worked with several South African artists including Ester Mahlangu, and William Boshoff. Learning about these contemporary artists served to broaden our understanding and experience of the Sotho people as well as art of non-Sotho people of South Africa. Being inspired by their processes and inspirations was a potent experience.