PHOTO | COURTESY OF NIKI BROWN - WT Students that traveled to Africa in March 2009. First row (from left): Johnny Story, Niki Brown, Patrick Miller, Kirk Scarbrough, Eranne Campsey, Joel Brown, William Walker, Brody Russell, Stayce Perez, Dino Griego, Andrew Brown. Second row (from left): Jessica Rejon, Brittney Ervin, Victoria Arambula, Jordan Crouch, Nick Hernandez, Chelsea Killen.
Hunger, poverty, and sadness are some of the words that come to our minds when we think about Africa.
In March 2009, the winners of the WT Readership essay contest enjoyed a trip to Lundazi, Zambia in which they engaged in community service as they learned about a new culture.
The trip was part of the Readership WT which began in 2005. It begins with a selected book for the University to read, which is given to all freshmen students, faculty and staff.
In 2007 the traveling component was added to the program, in which the winners of an essay contest are the chosen ones to go in an all-expenses paid trip to an area related to the book read.
The selected book for 2008 was “What is the What?” by Dave Eggers. The book tells the story of Valentino Deng, one the lost boys of Sudan.
Due to safety concerns, the selected students could not go to Sudan, but they were able to experience the different, but wonderful culture at Lundazi, Zambia.
In the documentary “Through the Eyes of Africa,” Niki Brown, Andrew Brown and Johnny Story, capture the 13 freshmen students as they interact with the community in Africa. They realize the joy and happiness of its citizens despite their poor life quality and misery.
“In America we like to complain a lot about what we don’t have instead of look at what we do have, and I think that’s really important,” Stayce Perez, Readership WT Ambassador said.
PHOTO | COURTESY OF NIKI BROWN - This trip was more than I could ever imagine. I’m truly honored to have had such a wonderful life changing experience and to have spent it with the most amazing people. It’s better to explain what this trip means to me by explaining how it’s changed me since I’ve been back.
In “Through the Eyes of Africa,” the documentarians reveal there is more to this region than what the majority of people think.
There is a rich culture with a variety of different traditions. The villagers are people that try to enjoy their life to the fullest and portray contentment in their faces.
When watching this feature, the audience will not only be able to learn about this culture, but they will be thankful for what they have and be happy for the advantages in their lives.
On their trip, the students were able to learn and network with the African villagers through different activities.
Perez said one of these activities was when the WT Ambassadors taught the children how to play different, typical American games and in turn, the kids taught the WT Ambassadors games that they play every day.
According to Niki, one of the hardest things she had to face while doing the documentary was not being able to interact with the community as the Ambassadors did.
As a documentarian, she had to focus on capturing all the relevant moments on tape, so she could not leave this aside and go interact like the rest were doing.
As part of the trip, students also taught the community about common diseases such as Malaria and HIV/Aids which are very common in this region.
In addition, the ambassadors donated mosquito nets to help families get protection.
Unfortunately, the students ran out of nets and did not have enough for all villagers.
By watching this documentary, Niki expects to increase awareness so that people will want to help out with the project that the WT Readership Africa Ambassadors are currently supporting, which is to raise money for mosquito nets to send back to the communities in Zambia.
She also explained that each net costs about $5-$6 so it is easy for many people to participate and help to change the lives of many families.
This 15-minute documentary’s premiere will be Nov.16 at 7:00 p.m. in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall on campus. The event will follow by a discussion with the Readership WT Ambassadors and the three documentariansor more information visit: wtamu.edu/academics/readership.aspx
Memories of Africa Will Last Forever
This trip was more than I could ever imagine. I’m truly honored to have had such a wonderful life changing experience and to have spent it with the most amazing people. It’s better to explain what this trip means to me by explaining how it’s changed me since I’ve been back.I’ve learned a lot about people in general, and I’ve learned a lot about myself as well.
This trip has taught me everything from saving money, to being who I truly am, to appreciating all that I have and to being more of a blessing to others.
This trip has really made me realize how blessed I really am, and that “we are blessed to be a blessing.” I have been given so much in my life and now it’s up to me to return those favors.
I am a firm believer in the saying, “everything happens for a reason.” It was said on many occasions during this trip that it was no coincidence that we were all chosen together, and it truly wasn’t.
You only have one life to live, and I plan to live a purposeful one. I’m not just going to sit around and let life pass me by.
I want to have an impact on someone else’s life, just as the country and the people of Zambia have had on mine.
This trip was definitely needed at this point in my life. Not a moment sooner, nor later. It was perfect.
- Brittney ErvinCheck the blog for more comments: http://readershipwtafrica.wordpress.com/
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