Students from the Simcoe County District School Board have traveled to Kenya with this program in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2016.
Here is what those participants have to say:
Here is what those participants have to say:
"In class, we were taught to look at the world from a critical perspective. For the first time, we were not simply exposed to the Africa that is portrayed in Hollywood or Christmas-time World Vision ads. We learned about HIV/Aids, the tragedy it caused before we were born, and the impact that it still has today. We learned about the United Nations, the Millennium Development Goals, the way organizations are run, and where their profits are allocated. We learned the reasons behind the slowed down process of development in East Africa, about colonialism, about fair trade and child labour, and how our purchases affect the rest of the world. At a young age, my peers and I became critical of capitalism and the world that it controls. All of these concepts have been discussed in my university career, and I can honestly say this course gave me a head-start. The trip was incredibly unique, well-planned and 'voluntourism' that made a massive positive difference. We saw, touched, smelled, and felt everything that people experienced locally. We made friends, played soccer with kids our age, helped build a school, went on a safari, kissed giraffes, learned how to conserve water, sang songs (terribly) on the bus, played Uno with people who spoke very little English, learned Swahili, danced, and became a family while we were there."
~ Daniel Stein (2011 Participant) |
"I would love to talk about Solomon. He was the first person in Africa that I bonded with and felt connected to. He was very upfront about his beliefs and his culture, and it was very eye-opening to hear about those things from a boy only a few years younger than me. While planning for the trip (with the classes and assignments), we were told about the cultural differences but it never seemed to fully sink in. It wasn't until I was able to spend quality one-on-one time with Solomon that I began to really interact with them. I grasped them so much better because he wasn't trying to show me the difference - he was just talking about his life like I would talk to you about mine. That's the great thing about this trip. We are able to learn and expand our knowledge from the classes, while also getting real-life experience with the people who live there. I will never forget the people I met there, and I will never forget the bonds I made with the people who went with me."
~ Amy Wilcox (2009 Participant) |
"The values I learned on this trip have allowed me to open my mind to cultural diversity, and inspired my initial academic interest in development. Activities such as the "water walk" allowed me to experience first-hand the struggles faced by millions around the world. These experiences gave me an opportunity to connect with Kenyan families and better understand their view on development work. The program emphasizes the importance of sustainable development, so as to not interfere with locals’ daily lives. It encourages students to understand controversial topics, so as to not offend people of different faiths and cultures. These values have made my recent work with other organizations easier because of the accepting nature instilled. The program provided me with an open-minded curriculum which engaged all aspects of a student’s potential. This trip was my rite of passage into adulthood. It gave me the opportunity to understand communities outside my own and interact with topics formerly too difficult. I highly recommend the program for its beneficial teachings to high school students."
~ Sydney Schneider (2012 Participant) |