As long as I can remember I have always had the dream to go and volunteer in Africa. I’m not sure when it started, but I remember countless nights during high school spent googling and researching various organizations and opportunities. The expensive plane ticket and hefty organization fees coupled with the longer period of stay needed to make the investment more worthwhile amounted to a dream that I was unable to commit to.
But over the years there were more convenient opportunities that presented themselves, and I quickly jumped at all of them. I got my first taste of the international volunteer experience in grade 11, when I travelled to Jamaica with a group of classmates and teachers on the annual BSS volunteer trip. We helped out at elementary schools, an orphanage, and a home for HIV positive orphans. It was an overwhelmingly emotional experience that filled me with gratitude for the life that I had been born into. It was that first trip that got me hooked. It was the beauty of the landscape and the simplicity of life without materialism. The humble act of people trying their best to help each other. The uninhibited love and joy that overflowed from everyone I met, no matter how little they had. I knew I had to do it again.
The summer after first year I travelled to Cambodia and Thailand with a group of Commerce students. Even though we spent more of the time touring than building houses, learning about the trials and horrors of Cambodian history while getting to visit the monuments was an absolutely unforgettable experience. Cut to second year when I joined Queen’s Commerce Initiative Abroad and went to Ecuador to help out at a community centre and re-do their playground. Yet another amazing experience in an exotic location that I still think about today.
Throughout all of these experiences, the thought was still there: I want to go to Africa. At a younger, more naïve stage, the thought was more along the lines of: I want to go to Africa and help people. It has now evolved into: What can I do in Africa that will have the greatest impact? Given that I am not a med student, and do not do very well with blood or illness, this rules out healthcare. After many years of learning about sustainable community initiatives, I have learned that education is an absolute necessity to combat poverty. Given that I have a business degree, perhaps I have gained some sort of knowledge that is worth sharing?
International volunteer work is often criticized, and sometimes rightly so. There is the question of whether the money spent on airfare is better used as a direct donation, or why huge organizations charge exorbitant fees for people to go and work for free. Luckily I was able to find a small organization in Tanzania with low administration costs that teaches disadvantaged women English, business, and computer skills. They then support a number of their students who go on to start their own businesses after graduation. This sounded perfect. I signed up without a moment’s hesitation.
So now I’m headed to Africa. Finally. For 6 weeks. By myself. Mother is thrilled (not). Regardless, it will be the adventure of a lifetime. In 3 weeks exactly I will be touching down at Mount Kilimanjaro airport. Soooo much to do before then!
