SUMMER INTERN ABROAD PROGRAM

GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH (SOUTH AFRICA)

Global Practicum

A 4-credit global practicum to develop skills, knowledge, and understanding that prepare you for leadership and engagement in our global society.

AT A GLANCE

  • Global Practicum Program
  • Disciplinary Track: Global Mental Health
  • Study Abroad Destination: South Africa
  • 2026 Dates: June 27-July 24 (4 weeks)
  • Credit: 4 U.S. credit hours (~ 8 ECTS credits) for eligible university students
  • Eligibility: Any field and level of study

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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Put mental health theory into practice in South Africa
This 4-week, 4-credit Global Practicum places students in hands-on roles within South Africa’s dynamic mental health landscape. Building on prior coursework or field engagement, students work in group placements with local organizations that focus on clinical services, trauma care, community resilience, or mental health advocacy.

Whether contributing to policy work or supporting community-based interventions, students collaborate closely with local mental health professionals, navigating ethical considerations and cultural dynamics. Weekly colloquia and mentorship sessions guide reflection and foster critical professional growth. A digital portfolio highlights students’ contributions and learning outcomes.
Program Highlights
  • 4-week group practicum in a mental health-focused organization
  • Structured support and supervision from local partners and GEI mentors
  • Integration of academic theory with community-based application
  • Capstone digital portfolio showcasing skills, insights, and impact
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ACADEMICS

Program Structure
The Global Mental Health Practicum is an intensive, 4-credit program spanning four weeks in Rwanda or South Africa. Students immerse themselves in practical mental health work through group placements with a host organization.

Through hands-on placements, students work alongside local psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and mental health advocates to address real-world mental health challenges. The practicum integrates clinical, community, and policy-based work, allowing students to engage in mental health interventions, program development, trauma-informed care, or research on mental health policies.

Each week, students participate in class colloquia, reflective discussions, and cultural activities, ensuring a deeper understanding of mental health care in different socio-economic and cultural contexts.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion, students will:
  • Collaborate ethically and effectively within a local mental health organization
  • Apply academic frameworks and field knowledge to real-world mental health initiatives
  • Analyze cultural, systemic, and resource-related influences on mental health practice
  • Demonstrate reflective and intercultural competencies through weekly colloquia
  • Present a polished digital portfolio of their work, learning, and impact
Further Details
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YOUR DESTINATION: SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa has emerged from its troubled and turbulent past into a healthy democratic country and the economic powerhouse of the African continent. At the same time, it’s a great place to witness a society going through dynamic changes, as it can still be considered both a developed and an underdeveloped country. South Africans forge a new identity, strongly embracing their unique multicultural character.

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

Hands-on mental health placements
Students are placed with NGOs, community clinics, or advocacy groups engaged in mental health work - from trauma care to youth outreach or psychosocial support. These roles allow for meaningful contributions to local initiatives and real-world application of academic learning.

Ethical engagement and cultural competence
Guided by local supervisors and GEI facilitators, students navigate culturally sensitive environments, developing practical skills in cross-cultural communication and ethical collaboration.
Peer cohort and mentorship support
Weekly colloquia create space for collaborative reflection, problem-solving, and shared learning. These sessions are complemented by one-on-one mentorship to support personal and professional growth.

Exploration beyond the classroom
Cultural immersion is part of daily life - whether through township tours, local cuisine, or museum visits. Optional weekend excursions to places like Robben Island or Table Mountain provide added context to South Africa’s mental health landscape and historical legacy.
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HOUSING & MEALS

The program includes 4 weeks in South Africa. For this time, GEI South Africa offers different housing options that students can choose from, pending availability. These include:

  • Homestays: Typically single rooms, with shared bathroom, and access to a kitchen and living room
  • Serviced apartments: Single or shared double rooms, with shared bathroom, and access to a kitchen and living room
  • University residence halls at our local partner universities: Shared double rooms, with shared bathroom and no kitchen facilities
  • Simple guesthouses: Shared double rooms, with shared bathroom and no kitchen facilities


Homestay host families typically provide breakfast and dinner. Students in serviced apartments, university residence halls, or guesthouses are usually responsible for all meals outside of core course meals.

You can find additional information in the following blog post: Accommodation – What to expect.

DATES, FEES, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Program Dates

Application Due Date

Fees

Summer 2026 (4 weeks): June 27-July 24

Summer 2026: April 1

Summer 2026: US $3,950 (4 weeks)

At GEI, we strongly believe in equal access to academic opportunities in study abroad. In order to help eliminate financial barriers, we offer a variety of merit scholarships, trailblazer scholarships, and opportunity scholarships and grants, ranging from $500 to full tuition awards. Each year, GEI is awarding several hundred thousand dollars in scholarships. You can find further information as well as additional resources for external funding opportunities in the following blog post: Scholarships & Grants.

INSTRUCTORS & COORDINATORS

Meet our core team

All of our instructors and coordinators are highly experienced and resourceful professionals.
Waleed Fatth, MPH
Program Director
Francoise Uzamukunda, MA
Academic Director, East Africa
Thuy Phan, MA
Academic Director, Vietnam
Chone Chaowai, MIDP
Academic Director, Thailand
Kari Cousins, MA/MSc
Academic Director, Southern Africa
Yvan Rubengebenge
Operations Manager, Rwanda
Eric Kingoina, DCS
Operations Manager, Kenya
Dang Huynh, BA
Operations, Vietnam
Denyse Iradukunda, BA
Operations, Rwanda
Sammy Davies Mochama, BSc
Operations, Kenya
Mabwe Gwamure, BSc
Operations, South Africa

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