Journeys to South Africa

International service-learning programs are growing on college and university campuses; yet little is known about how students learn from these experiences and even less is known about how hosting communities benefit from these endeavors, particularly when the projects are short-term. Journeys to South Africa: Reflections on 20 Years of Short-term Service-Learning helps fill these gaps in the knowledge about international service-learning by offering description and analysis of qualitative data gathered during 20 years of service-learning in South Africa. This book is a unique collection of college student- and faculty-authored chapters. The data includes interviews conducted with host communities, surveys of students who have participated in the ISL program, interviews with some students who participated in the program in the early 2000s, and students’ travel journal entries, all of which are used to exemplify the successes and challenges of this 20-year ISL program. Journeys to South Africa provides significant insight into the two most important concerns of any service-learning program: how do students learn and communities benefit from these projects. The writing style is engaging, providing a unique combination of first-hand narratives, qualitative evidence and scholarly context. Faculty, administrators, and students who are interested in international service-learning will find enlightening the insights on the best practices and benefits of short-term international service-learning offered by Journeys to South Africa.

Victoria M. Tischio holds a Ph.D. in Composition and Rhetoric from the the University at Albany, SUNY (1998). She holds a B.S. in Studio Art (painting and silversmithing) and an M.A. in English (British Romanticism) from Southern Connecticut State University. She has published in the areas of critical pedagogy, feminism, and service-learning. She teaches introductory, advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in composition and rhetoric, and undergraduate courses in film, and for the Honors College she teaches courses on publishing and service-learning. She has served in numerous leadership roles at West Chester University, including Associate Dean for the College of Humanities and Sciences, English Department Chair, Learning Communities Coordinator, and Writing Center Director.

Camryn Carwll (Cam) has a B.A. in English Literature and Communication Studies from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, with concentrations in African and African American Literature and publishing. She traveled to South Africa in 2019 with the WCU Honors College. Since graduating in spring 2020, Cam works as a social media account manager and a freelance writer. She can be found caring for her "plant babies" and catching up on Black feminist writing.

CJ Deskie is a graduating senior, majoring in Psychology at West Chester University. He participated in the 2019 Honors College service-learning program in South Africa. After working as an author and co-editor of this book, he discovered a love for writing, which he is pursuing through a minor in journalism and creative writing classes. He hopes to utilize his knowledge of writing and psychology to inspire and help others. CJ currently works as a campus tour guide and a peer educator for the campus Wellness Promotion Center. He aspires to work as a therapist or as a writer after graduation.

Dunya Markovic is a graduating senior with a major in Studio Arts and minors in Art History, Civic and Professional Leadership, and Psychology at West Chester University. She traveled to South Africa in 2019 and her experience there led her to working as a research assistant and co-editor of this book and to serving as the Games and Activities Director for Aid to South Africa. Dunya works as a Leadership Consultant on WCU's campus, where she creates and runs leadership seminars and assists student-run organizations. She hopes to pursue a career as an art historian after graduation.