By Bright Kapilya
I joined the LearnServe program in 2021, and the experience has been great. I am glad to say that LearnServe is really the BEST program here in Zambia for youth who have an interest in solving social challenges that are affecting their communities. Since the time I joined LearnServe, I have been doing things differently from the way I used to do them. I have identified different skills, values, and talents.
Recently, LearnServe gave me the BEST experience ever! This was the chance to connect and share ideas with other students from the U.S. Personally, I would love if this opportunity continues to be available not only to me but even to other Zambian fellows. The following paragraphs explain the benefits I received from the Global Zambia experience.
The moment our friends arrived here in Zambia, I had already planned what I expected from the trip and from my friends. My plans were (1) to ensure that I work closely with the team; (2) to collaborate and avoid unnecessary competition; (3) to show a positive attitude and energy; (4) have everyone to be open-minded – openly communicating, sharing, asking and clarifying doubts; and lastly, (5) to respect everyone. Everything worked well without fail.
During the cultural exchange, a lot of things worked well for me and surprisingly, many other students confidently said the same thing. One thing that surprised me during this period was the fact that I was able to interact and share ideas with everyone as if we’ve known each other for a long period of time. In this case, I can say that LearnServe acted as a link between the U.S. and Zambian Incubator students. Another part of the exchange that surprised me is how our friends from the U.S. were willing to learn new things (e.g. songs and dances) and enjoy a variety of Zambian foods.
Since the time our friends arrived, I experienced many amazing moments that I am proud of. I enjoyed the songs and the dances from our friends, and most importantly, the time we shared our experiences and ventures through LearnServe. This was indeed an amazing moment. I also had a chance to play different games with them.
The biggest challenges that I faced during the cultural exchange program were building relationships and overcoming social isolation. I personally find it hard to build new relationships with others, especially if I don’t really know them and their personalities. But surprisingly, I was able to overcome this challenge and made friends in the blink of an eye.
This trip has really impacted me and affected me in a positive way because I was able to learn new things and new ideas from the U.S. team. Everyone in the team became my sister, my brother and family. I got a chance to learn and understand different cultures and activities. The trip also showed us the importance of respecting other people’s opinions, because not everything can work according to our thinking.