Global Activism: ‘LEAP’ Hinsdale, Illinois and South Africa Teacher Exchange

LEAP
Students from LEAP Science and Maths School in Cape Town, South Africa. LEAP aims make up for years of racism in South Africa's Apartheid educational system. LEAP Science and Maths School Facebook
LEAP
Students from LEAP Science and Maths School in Cape Town, South Africa. LEAP aims make up for years of racism in South Africa's Apartheid educational system. LEAP Science and Maths School Facebook

Global Activism: ‘LEAP’ Hinsdale, Illinois and South Africa Teacher Exchange

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It’s Thursday, and time for Global Activism, when Worldview features people who are making the world a better place. In apartheid South Africa, black South Africans were barred from studying fields such as science and engineering. The LEAP Science and Maths School aims make up for years of racism in the educational system. It encourages black South African youth, from an economically disadvantaged area of Cape Town, to excel in math and science. Eleven years ago, after a Hinsdale, Illinois high school student returned from a family vacation in South Africa, she formed a club to support LEAP. It’s now blossomed into a full teacher exchange between Hinsdale schools and South Africa schools. We first heard about LEAP from its founder, John Gilmour, in 2007. LEAP has blossomed over the years. For an update, we’re joined by Pam Bylsma, a retired Illinois School District 86 superintendent. With her is Olivia Ostrowski, a LEAP Club member at Hinsdale Central High School and Neo Gaopalangwe, a LEAP teacher from South Africa.