What inspired you to focus on mining communities, specifically in Uta, South Africa?
The legacy of apartheid in South Africa has left countless challenges for rural communities such as Uta, where residents have been granted immense freedoms yet in many ways have been abandoned by their leaders over the past 15 years. These communities face rates of HIV/AIDS and unemployment unimaginable to many Americans. Electricity and clean water are luxuries few can afford. Yet by spending time in Uta, we have seen the drive and potential of our South African peers. Youth in these communities are dedicated to overcoming the challenges they face to create new opportunities for themselves and generations to come. Immense progress has been made in South Africa since the end of apartheid, and we are inspired by the commitment of the country’s youth to accomplish so much more. Q. What challenges or difficulties have you encountered? How have you addressed them? Our biggest challenges working in the Uta community are the language and cultural barriers we face as American students working
