Students for Sustainable Development in South Africa
In 1994, after a long history of institutionalized racism, South Africa made the transition from having the most oppressive and racist regime in the world to having the world's most progressive constitution. Starting anew comes at a high cost, and although South Africa now shines as a political and economic beacon on the African continent, the country's transformation has just begun. The government that came into power as the liberation party in 1994 inherited South Africa in a state of social and economic collapse and has since been working to help the nation move past its complex and oppressive history.
The post-apartheid government has tried to provide a national framework for social and economic development however with a static welfare budget and mixed priorities many of the promised changes have yet to be realized. While the South African people have built a strong network of organizations and initiatives working for sustainable development, this network is strained with limited funds and a lack of government support. Without the necessary resources and alliances these organizations cannot continue to improve the lives of all South Africans and give promise to a brighter future for the nation through their invaluable services.
At SSDSA we work to connect development organizations in the United States with similar ones in South Africa to create an international coalition for sustainable development. Our goal is to form valuable partnerships between organizations and develop a progressive framework with which these alliances can flourish. We also hope to offer a thorough database of development organizations in South Africa with information on how those interested can get involved and know that their contributions will make a real difference.
Please browse the site and learn more about who we are and what we hope to accomplish!
