I've been thinking of South Africa because initially, the Peace Corps asked me if I wanted to do gender based work in Africa. I said no, because I've heard about it's not safe for queer people, so I went for Nicaragua. Now, after having done some research, I've learned that South Africa actually allows gay marriage and, while it's not anywhere near being a completely safe LGBTQ space, it is one of the more LGBTQ-friendly countries on the continent.
After I finish my service in November of 2016, I could see myself doing research in South Africa for any sort of NGO or University program that is concerned with promoting women's self-esteem/LGBTQ rights. Do you know of any organizations or Universities that might benefit from having me working with them, or do you know of anyone who could connect me with someone in particular who could work directly with me? For now, I think I'd like to focus on working in Cape Town but if you have any other ideas, let me know. Thanks!