Seventeen Travelers will visit the HIV/AIDS rampant country of South Africa to engage in a “Service Vacation”.
As we prepare for this trip, I am overwhelmed with expectation, excitement and most importantly fear. Although I do not fear for my own life, I fear that I may not be prepared for the changes that lie ahead. May the journey transform us all into better human beings and may all beings find good health.
In order to deepen our true objectives of the South Africa trip, we have created a few questions to reflect upon before we depart, while we are there and when we return.
Questions to think about before you leave for South Africa:
– Why do you think so many people have been affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa?
– How do you think you will react when you interact with someone with HIV/AIDS?
– How do you think you will react when you are introduced to the level of poverty there?
– Why are you going? What do you wish to accomplish?
– How do you expect to change while you are there?
Questions to think about during your travels:
– Have you detected a racist/ethnic component to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa?
– Have you detected a social economic component to the HIV/AIDS crisis in South Africa?
– How do you think that this crisis would be handled if this was happening in the United States?
– Do local South African residents understand the scope of the problem?
– Are local residents educated on methods of avoiding HIV/AIDS?
– Are local authorities empowering relief aid organizations?
– Are local authorities actively participating in relief aid efforts?
– Why do you think the AIDS crisis is getting worse in Africa?
– What would you do if you found out that you were infected with HIV?
– What would you do if you found out that your partner was infected with HIV?
– What conditions would you expect to endure if you found out that you were infected with HIV and lived in South Africa?
– What conditions would you expect to endure if you found out that you were infected with HIV, lived in South Africa and were below the poverty line?
Questions to think about upon your return:
– Why is this situation our responsibility?
– What will happen if we do nothing?
– How do we begin to educate the rest of the world on this crisis?
– What has been the response of the United States?
– How has this trip changed you?