What: I went on the Creating Sustainable Social Change study abroad program in fall 2015 to Lugano, Switzerland and Adigrat, Ethiopia. We spent nine weeks in Lugano learning and taking classes in marketing and psychology. Then on October 31st a group of 12 of us flew to Adigrat, Ethiopia for five weeks. During our time there we taught 3rd grade for two week and 4th graders for two weeks at St. Lucy’s Primary School. We taught a variety of subject matter, we taught English, handwriting, computer skills, math, and some science. We also brought tablets to Africa with different applications for the kids to use to reinforce the information they were learning in school. We made lesson plans for what we would do each day with our class. Some day we would play American games or we made writing worksheets or a read along with the class. There were three people from our trip in each teaching group and most days we would have a translator with us in the classroom. We also taught English and computer skills to a class of older children at Bruh Tesfa Youth Development Center. Lastly, we worked with Adigrat University. We sat in some of their classes in the sociology department, talked in small discussion groups about different topics, and held a discussion panel.

 

So What: The five weeks I spent in Africa were some of the best weeks of my life. It was truly a life changing experience being with and teaching these amazing children. There were uniforms at the school but these children would come in ripped up tattered clothes and not have a care in the world and at the youth development center the children were in even worse shape. This one child held on to my hand the whole almost two hours we were there it was so heartwarming. He didn’t say anything to me I didn’t even know his name but I felt like we had a connection. The first day we went to the center it rained and we were all out in the field playing with the kids. There is sever water shortage in Adrigrat and they are in a very dry season. This little child looked up to the sky and said thank you God this is the best day ever. For these precious children rain and our presence alone could make this little boy say this. This moment has stuck with me. Knowing that just my efforts and playing with the kids had such an impact on these kid’s lives. Most of the children knew very little if any English at all, yet I feel like I knew them on a deeper lever and could some how communicate with them if not through speech.

These five weeks changed me as a person in many ways. I learned that I could survive out of my comfort zone. Teaching a class of twenty-five students who barely speak English was just the tip of the iceberg when I was in Africa. So many things were different and strange to us but I made it through and that taught me a lot about myself as a person. It taught me I could over come just about anything if I put my mind to it. These children all had very little and have grown up that way their whole lives. Every time now I run into something that I think I can’t face it makes me think about these kids and the smiles on their faces. I can count on my hand the number of times I heard a child complain or cry the five weeks I was there. We would walk down the street and see what looked like a ten year old boy herding like twelve sheep. The responsibility that they give children at such a young age is astounding to me.  The leader of the program Dr. Brinberg said to us that you will learn more from these kids then they will learn from you. It was so right! I think about these kids and my experience every day. Yes we tried to teach them English and handwriting but our take away was so much more meaningful.

 

Now What: I want to do more! I wish I could go back right now! I would love to go back and help more children and revisit some of the children we left, see how they are doing and what has changed in their lives. After my time in Africa it changed what I want to do with my life. I have always wanted to help people but after this experience I want to work with other NGO’s and non-profit organizations to help all over the world. I have always wanted to be a nurse but now maybe switching my focus from the United States to parts of the world where they don’t have easy access to nurses or healthcare. Also this experience showed that I could be a good teacher, I loved connecting with the students and seeing them working so hard to understand a topic and once they did how accomplished they felt. Working tirelessly to shape the young minds of these kids made me want to keep going on this teaching journey. 

 

 

Here is a link if you want to learn more about the Creating Sustainable Social Change study abroad: http://www.linkinglives.org