This four-part series spotlights four Syracuse University summer abroad programs and students’ experiences – part 2 of 4.

Correction: In a previous version of this article, Taylor’s ancestors’ history was misstated. The African slaves died due to inhumane treatment caused by the Middle Passage. The Daily Orange regrets this error.

On Ronald Taylor’s flight to Grahamstown, South Africa, professor Timothy Eatman told him they were flying over hundreds of thousands of his ancestors’ bones. These ancestors were African slaves who died due to the inhumane treatment caused by the Middle Passage.

Taylor, with 17 other Syracuse University students, teamed up with the non-profit organization Inkululeko to help underprivileged youth in South Africa for three weeks. The SU students tutored kids, put on workshops, completed their own research projects and finished homework assignments.

Taylor, a senior political science and policy studies double major, said the main goal was to help the children.

“The school that we were working in, I would have to equate to a jail cell,” he said. “But every morning there was an assembly and the students would sing a song, ‘Never Give Up.’ It was really beautiful.”

Inkululeko was founded by Jason Torreano in 2012 after he completed his own study abroad program in Grahamstown nearly 10 years ago. Torreano said the organization provides the students not only with academic support, but also with holistic support.

In Xhosa, the native South African language, the name “Inkululeko” means “freedom,” which is what Torreano said they are striving to provide. They want to give children the opportunity to complete college, something older generations of South Africans did not have.

SU was vital in helping create Inkululeko, and Torreano stressed that the students play a key role in the organization each year.

“They love when SU comes,” Torreano said. “It provides opportunities for these cross-cultural exchanges. SU helps jumpstart initiatives that the organization wants to do. That’s very, very valuable.”

Inkululeko doesn’t want the students to just be tourists, though – it encourages them to have a connection with the kids and the locals.

Graduate student Nejwa Ali said people questioned and were surprised when she said she was going to South Africa for the summer. But she wanted to compare her experiences on her trip with international relations and conflicts in the Middle East.

During her time abroad, Ali said she discovered the reality of education in South Africa – teachers don’t show up to school.

“They really don’t show up. That was really hard,” she said. “For me, the most encouraging moment was seeing students continually show up at school even when the teachers don’t. That’s basically the only way out of poverty.”

Ali said the locals were incredibly generous and amazing. They took as much interest in her as she did them. She felt as if her time there wasn’t long enough, and said they did more for her than she could ever do for them.

Like Ali, Taylor said his time in Grahamstown wasn’t long enough, and is making plans to go back after graduating SU. He said his time in South Africa was extremely humbling and eye-opening.

“I really had the time to see and think and say, ‘Wow, the small things to me are actually quite monumental here,’” Taylor said. “I think that’s what struck me the most.”

While working with Inkululeko, Taylor created the Magical Math Machine, a tool for kids to help them with their math skills. He said it was powerful to help a child work past the language barrier and figure out a concept. This long-lasting project will help the kids with their math skills even after Taylor is gone, which is accomplishing the Inkululeko goal.

Said Taylor: “It’s easy as a college student to feel like you’re not doing enough, but I really had the time to reflect and say, ‘Hey, this is actually a really great experience and I’m doing a lot.’ I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything else.”

Published on July 4, 2014 at 2:59 pm

Contact Jackie: jmfrere@syr.edu | @jackie_frere