Robben Island Prison Tour

"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."- Nelson Mandela, during the closing statements of his treason trial in 1961.

Nelson Mandela was incarcerated on Robben Island for 18 of his 27 years in prison, making a visit to this World Heritage site a must for anyone interested in Apartheid history. During our visit to the island, former prisoners will guide us and share personal anecdotes about what life was like as a prisoner at one of the most dreadful prisons in all of South Africa. Highlights of the tour include a visit to the famous quarry where Mandela and his fellow prisoners would secretly hold political discussions and to the very cell where Mandela lived and began drafting his autobiography, "A Long Walk to Freedom." All VACorps participants will have the opportunity to visit Robben Island, so be sure to check the program calendar for exact dates!

The following quote from a PBS Apartheid documentary best recaps the historical significance of Robben Island:

Robben Island became the crucible which transformed him. Through his intelligence, charm and dignified defiance, Mandela eventually bent even the most brutal prison officials to his will, assumed leadership over his jailed comrades and became the master of his own prison. He emerged from it the mature leader who would fight and win the great political battles that would create a new democratic South Africa.