The initiation ritual symbolizes the transition from boyhood to manhood in many South African ethnic groups. This important tradition during which males are circumcised and taught to be responsible men has been practiced for hundreds of years in rural areas. In recent years, the ritual has spread to urban environments and faced many challenges, including insufficient areas of suitable land and lack of safe health practices. Through research of the culture and analysis of the only existing formal initiation site, the team assisted in preparing a plan and implementation strategy for the development of the Good Hope College Initiation Site in Khayelitsha; a commitment by the City of Cape Town to the formalization and reservation of land for the sacred ritual of initiation.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Quiroga Vargas, Luis Javier
• Connolly, Matthew S.
• Chen, Qiu
• Stewart, Andrew Garrett

Subject

• Well-Being
• Culture
• Infrastructure
• Community

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-121610-125323

Keyword

• Medical care
• Open spaces
• Multiculturalism

Advisor

• Jiusto, Scott
• Hersh, Robert

Year

• 2010

Center

• Cape Town, South Africa Project Center - IQP

Sponsor

• City of Cape Town, Liaison Lungelo Nokwaza

Date created

• 2010-12-16

Location

• Cape Town

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright