For the first time in its 14-year history, the Toyota International Teacher Program has selected 24 U.S. teachers to study in South Africa in order to help enhance environmental and global awareness in schools.

 ”The expansion of the Toyota International Teacher Program to South Africa, and our partnership with the Western Cape school system, provides a meaningful opportunity for a broad spectrum of teachers to connect and integrate environmental and cultural themes in various disciplines,” said Michael Rouse, vice president of philanthropy for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

 During their trip, taking place July 24 to August 10, 2011, the teachers will visit Johannesburg, Durban, Pretoria, Cape Town and Kruger National Park to learn firsthand about sustainability and conservation efforts in South Africa, the country’s rich cultural heritage, and the economic and political issues facing the country today.

 Included in their itinerary is a visit to the Apartheid Museum and Soweto Township in Johannesburg, as well as a tour of Toyota’s South African plant in Durban, where teachers will learn about Toyota South Africa’s efforts to support local schools and educators. The group will also partner with Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, as well as collaborate for the first time with local South African teachers during five days of shared learning activities and visits to local schools in Cape Town.

 Throughout this unique experience, teachers will stay in touch with their students by posting blogs, photos and lesson plans via personalized virtual classrooms on toyota4education.com.

 Representing 18 states and selected from a record-high 1,026 applications, the educators were chosen through a competitive, merit-based process administered by Institute of International Education (IIE), the nation’s most experienced nonprofit educational exchange organization. Selection criteria included professional qualifications, evidence of interest in international education, and feasibility of incorporating the study experience into the curriculum.

 Over the course of the Toyota International Teacher Program’s history, a total of 635 teachers nationwide have traveled to Japan, Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands. To learn more about the program, visit iie.org; or to learn more about Toyota’s philanthropic efforts, visit toyota.com.