Youthful delegation heading to South Africa

by Ken Jones, South Africa Mission Partnership member

SAMP and its predecessor mission groups in the Presbytery of the Western Reserve have been organizing small groups to visit South Africa since 1995. Delegations from South Africa have also come to Ohio on a number of occasions.

Usually the trips to South Africa have been scheduled in either April or November, in order to take advantage of off-season air fares as well as the climate and the availability of contact people in the southern hemisphere.

One unfortunate consequence of this timing, however, has been the exclusion of both students and teachers who are not able to break out of their academic calendars for a solid two or three weeks. This time, however, SAMP decided for a different plan by scheduling our 2009 delegation for July. Three students (one each in high school, college, and seminary) and two elementary school teachers have been recruited. We are especially pleased to have younger participants this year. Our network companions in South Africa are planning to line up similarly young people for significant interactions with the US team.

Even though the total costs are greater in the peak travel season, and the weather in July in some parts of South Africa “not so hot”, SAMP and Sisonke have agreed that including young people in the relationship is critically important. Individuals and church groups have helped to raise the necessary funds; students do not often have the disposable income available to older adults.

Courtney Payne, a sophomore at St. Olaf College in Minnesota, is an African-American Presbyterian who was the presbytery’s Youth Advisory Delegate to the 2008 PCUSA General Assembly. Courtney writes that, “Seeing myself as a citizen of the world, rather than just my city, state or country has become increasingly important to me over the past year.” As an urban American, she expects to learn a lot from rural Africans about where food comes from and how US policies impact its production and distribution.

Jason Callahan, a student at Union Seminary in Richmond, is following in the foot steps of his grandmother who participated in a presbytery delegation to South Africa in 2000. Also African-American, Jason is looking forward to experiencing the worship and witness of Christians involved in the Sisonke network and what they have to teach Christians in the US.

Kamran Arif, a high school junior, is the son of a Muslim Pakistani father and a Christian American mother. He is very eager to experience the multi-cultural context of South Africa and to learn how his peers there view Americans and the role of the US in world affairs.

Margie Coffey, Kamran’s mother, is an elementary school teacher with a special interest in multi-cultural studies, and an Elder who chairs the social justice committee of her congregation. Margie is prepared to engage in advocacy efforts on behalf of issues identified by the Joining Hands network in South Africa.

Gina Hansen is a retired school teacher, eager to share her experiences in South Africa with junior and senior high school members of her congregation. Gina and her fellow travelers understand that this undertaking is not simply a “once off” (a British/South African-ism meaning one time only) event, but that it will lead to ongoing involvements with Joining Hands networks in both countries.

Former Companionship facilitators, Susanne Carter and Ken Jones, will accompany the delegation on behalf of SAMP. Newly appointed Companionship Facilitator for Lesotho and South Africa, Bridgette Hector, will also join the group when it arrives in South Africa on July 7.