Expression seems to be the human right that everyone demands; if it supressed, people cannot, or believe they cannot accurately and appropriately exist as humans.

Visiting Regina Mundi Church, the sight of protests in Soweto against apartheid, reinforced any idea I had about the essential human right being the freedom of speech. I was completely blown away by what the supression of that right ignites in a population. Students using their voices inspired a new level of involvement and awareness of the oppression of apartheid in the 1970s.

I can't believe what I've seen in the last 4 days! It's been out of this world. Frankly, I don't think I have been able to take it all in, but really, I think this will forever change my life.

Preparing for a journey to the African continent has left me bewildered, an unfamiliar emotion in my life, as a self-proclaimed "control freak"! My emotions and sentiments have ranged from uncontrollable nerves, to fear and so much joy and gratitude for the opportunity. I know this trip will be life-changing by encouraging questions, that may someday lead to answers, while building on past experiences and creating new memories and opportunities. I am fascinated to study education in South Africa: it's role in society, the value it holds and the pedagogies.

While studying with PLU at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland this summer, my research focused on peace education programs sponsored by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Both of these agencies have adopted very successful and broad-reaching educational programs as a part of an intergovernmental organization, to change the paradigm of a culture towards peace. But, within the state of South Africa, how does the government sponsor or encourage, if all, pedagogies founded in peace? Studying the transfer of this model from the intergovernmental to the state level will be of supreme interest to me as we watch the evolution of communities promoting peace.