Retracing the steps of Nelson Mandela

One of the highlights of our week in Johannesburg was on Tuesday when we spent a full day retracing the steps of Nelson Mandela. We were accompanied by Mr. Garcia, Brescia House's expert history teacher. Mr. Garcia had given us a class earlier in the week as an introduction to apartheid and to Mandela's "long walk to freedom." We learned so much from Mr. Garcia and from visiting Nelson Mandela's house, the Liliesleaf farm, Constitution Hill and Soweto (the Southwest Township where Mandela lived and began his work). It was a fascinating day and, despite the rain, it was one of our favorite activities.

The Liliesleaf farm cottage, used by activists in the 1960's which
housed the raid which led to the famous Rivonia trial

the students enjoyed investigating at this interactive table

The Mandela Family house

Inside the Regina Mundi Cathedral in Soweto

Soweto photo exhibit

Mr. Garcia speaking inside one of the Johannesburg prisons where Nelson Mandela was held

Gandhi was also imprisoned here as a young man

inside the prison

the dismal place where prisoners were fed