Delegation Leader: Pamela Thompson, MS, RN, FAAN
Chief Executive Officer, American Organization of Nurse Executives
&
Carol A. Watson, PhD, RN
2008 President, American Organization of Nurse Executives

Program Dates: August 11-20, 2008

A delegation of professionals specializing in executive nursing has been selected to participate in bilateral exchanges with their professional counterparts in South Africa, under the auspices of People to People Ambassador Programs.

SOUTH AFRICA

With a dynamic fusion of African, European and Asian influences, South Africa is a place of vibrant cultural diversity. Since the early 1990s, the nation has emerged from years of oppression and apartheid and evolved into a stable modern democracy under the inspirational leadership of Nelson Mandela, one of the world’s most respected political figures. South Africa is home to an enormous variety of birds and animals, and is one of the best places in the world to watch big game. 
 

• Compare the similarities and differenced in the South African and American nursing systems

Guest program:
Venture to Pretoria, the capital of South Africa, and trace the history of the Great Trek at the Voortrekker Monument.

Continue on to the Paul Kruger House where personal stories about the Boer resistance leader are told.

Stroll through Church Square, with its historical buildings and enjoy a panoramic view of Pretoria from the Union Buildings.

Thursday, Day 4: Johannesburg

Professional program focusing on:

• Identify the ways in which nursing associations are influencing the professional development of South African nurses

Guest program:
Embark on an exploration of the darkest years in South African history at the Apartheid Museum.

Delegates and guests can experience Soweto, a city of stark contrasts. The palatial homes of millionaires stand next door to shacks inhabited by the destitute. You can also visit landmarks such as the Chris Hani Baragwaneth Hospital, the largest hospital in the Southern Hemisphere; the Hector Peterson Memorial; Winnie Mandela’s home; Bishop Tutu’s house; and the former home of Nelson Mandela.

Friday, Day 5: Johannesburg to Cape Town

Professional program focusing on:

• Discuss the role of the family and the consumer in South Africa’s healthcare system

Guest program:
Visit a local craft market and then explore the city on your own.

Take a flight to the southern city of Cape Town.

Cape Town, the oldest port in southern Africa, is regularly heralded as one of the most beautiful cities on earth. Situated in the far southwestern corner of Africa, Cape Town is physically separated from the rest of the continent by a mountain range. Enjoy a leisurely walk about town and dine at one of the many amazing restaurants Cape Town has to offer.


Saturday, Day 6: Cape Town

Spend the day enjoying the sites in and around Cape Town. Explore the countryside via a coach tour of the Cape Peninsula, including the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, and the Cape of Good Hope (Cape Point) in the Cape Peninsula National Park. Extraordinary care has been taken to protect the environmental integrity of the area. A reserve of indigenous flora and fauna and home of the unique Cape Floral Kingdom, its remarkable natural beauty makes it a destination for both foreign and local visitors.

Sunday, Day 7: Cape Town

Enjoy some free time in the morning to explore independently.

Take a wine tour to the Cape wine lands.

Monday, Day 8: Cape Town

Professional program focusing on:

• Explore the basic concepts of patient safety and learn how these issues have evolved within the South African healthcare organizations
• Investigate the relationship between nurses and physicians and nurses and other members of the healthcare team in South Africa

Guest program:
Discover the beauty and splendor of the cape, which is home to beautiful vineyards set against mountain backdrops, majestic homesteads with their Cape-Dutch gables, and magnificent cellars housing famous wines. Visit a selection of wine estates for wine tasting and enjoy the visual splendors of a variety of wine farms in the region.

The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore independently.

Tuesday, Day 9: Cape Town

Professional program focusing on:

• Explore the challenges faced in caring for AIDS patients in the South African healthcare system

Guest program:
View Table Mountain, a World Heritage Site and a famous landmark of Cape Town. Ascend the mountain by the revolving aerial cable car for stunning views of the entire Cape Peninsula, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and Cape Town and its harbor.
Having a farewell banquet on the final evening in South Africa will give delegates and guests a chance to recap their People to People experiences.

Wednesday, Day 10: Cape Town to New York

Thursday, Day 11: Arrival in New York
 

Optional Extension to Kruger National Park
View the optional extension itinerary
Please inquire for further information upon registration

We work diligently to ensure that the activities described here are available on your program. In rare cases, scheduling conflicts, delays, weather or circumstances beyond our control may result in program changes. If substitution is required, we make every effort to feature comparable events to retain the content and quality of the program.