July 8, 2016 – It felt surreal that it was the last day of the trip and considering that I thought some days were never going to end, I can’t believe that we made it to the last day. I honestly feel that this trip flew by. I am excited to be going home but also sad to leave all my new friends and not be able to see them all day, everyday. With this whole mix of emotions flooding inside me, I made a pact to myself to ensure that my last day in Zambia would be perfect.
After a late start, we began the day by visiting the Kilimanjaro Film Institute. The Institute educates kids between the ages of 18-24 in an extensive two-year film program. PLAN, a Zambian NGO that helps suffering and deprived children, offers scholarships to students wishing to attend the school who may have not been able to afford it on their own. The school favors the attendance of girls because of the lack of females in the Zambian media industry. The students make documentaries, learn editing software, and they work with TV and movie companies. The head of the institute, Mary, said that it was pretty easy for students to get jobs after graduating because of how well the program prepares them for dealing with media in the real world. We also discussed stereotypes that some of us might have had when coming to Zambia, for example, not expecting such a diverse community and seeing people being stand-offish to white Americans. I was happy that the youths are given a place where they can pursue a career that may not be common in their communities. I was also appreciative of all the teachers there for allowing underprivileged students to follow their dreams.
After the introduction to the program, we had a discussion with the teachers and it was interesting because they all come from very different backgrounds and all had unique insights about traveling and the art of filmmaking. They were all very enthusiastic about filmmaking and encouraging equal opportunity for everyone, no matter their upbringing. As summed up well by Damien, the best entrepreneurs in Lusaka come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
After a quick lunch stop at the guesthouse, we went to Africa Directions where we helped clean up their facilities. There, we were split into groups and we took turns cleaning the windows, walls, kitchen and outside. It was a weird feeling for me to be cleaning a space that did not belong to us but it made me feel better knowing how appreciative and thankful they were for our help, considering we hadn’t done that much cleaning. After we finished, we gathered in a circle with some of the locals preforming a traditional dance for us complete with African drums and dancers. I enjoyed being immersed in the Zambian music culture and I love how passionate and talented the dancers were.
Once we left Africa Directions, we got ready for our last meal in Zambia at the Shaka Grill. It was a bittersweet feeling knowing that we wouldn’t be eating all together anymore and that after tomorrow, we would be going our separate ways. I am thankful for all the time we have spent together as a group and I can honestly say that I’ve shared a special moment with everyone and come to love our little family. After looking back on the day and the trip, I think I can say with certainty that this last day and the entire trip, was perfect.
Ayla H-F., Washington International School