Oriented in Africa

July 11, 2017

Immediately as I arrived at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (named after the first president of independent Zambia), I knew Zambia was going to be completely unlike the US. Customs/immigration was extremely limited, and I was allowed in after simply being asked why I was here and having my passport checked. This was odd to me, coming from a country in which national security is such a priority. Later, after talking to a local man, I found out that Zambia, despite the many tribes and provinces, is an extremely peaceful place. Despite the precious minerals drilled in Zambia, there is no war or aggression between provinces or tribes, even though such issues cause problems in places like the Congo. The assumption of peace is not something anyone has in America, for obvious reasons, but it is so interesting to be in a place in which the people relate in such peace. Although the reasons America has so much to protect its citizens from may be non-preventable, it is so refreshing to be somewhere that has not fallen victim to war or terrorism, and where people have mutual respect for each other. The man assured me that, no matter who you are, you will not be mugged in the street in Zambia. We were greeted by our driver for the month, Allen, and all 12 students got in a van headed toward the Kalulu backpackers in Lusaka. Looking out the window, we passed by huge advertising billboards for some popular US brands. I saw a medical clinic, a dentist, a veterinarian, and an optometrist. To my surprise, I counted over 20 construction/drilling companies located along the major road in Lusaka. The street was bustling with cars, taxis, and buses, but there were few traffic lights. As we were passing in the van and as we started to walk around our new city, people waved and greeted us warmly. The staff at the Backpackers were extremely kind and wanted to get to know us immediately. Overall, I felt very welcomed and at home.

Our orientation, as will be the case with our lectures and classes, was very non-traditional. We were not completely sure when the Dialogue was planned how limited our technology would be, but we soon came to find out that it is in fact VERY limited. Kalulu backpackers where we are staying has no wifi, and thus, powerpoint presentations are not an option. Professor Gardinier told us immediately as we first convened as a group upon arrival that we must be flexible, because very little is certain here, and that was definitely true. One important topic at orientation was health and safety, and we spent a lot of time discussing the “do’s and don’ts” of living in Lusaka. Most importantly we were reminded to avoid drinking the water, to ensure our mosquito nets were down before we went to sleep, and to be wary of fruits and vegetables without thick skins that could be peeled back. The topic we covered in the most detail, however, was cultural competency and respect. Before we left for Lusaka, we were assigned videos and readings about the complicated history of NGO’s in African countries. While most people think American volunteers going on mission trips and NGO’s like Tom’s providing free shoes to developing nations, these things have caused some major issues in the past. Frequently volunteers, because they do not take the time to familiarize themselves with the needs of the population, do more harm than good, and leave behind a mess. We were reminded to steer clear of the “white hero complex” and that we are here to learn, not to tell people what they need. I have so much respect and appreciation for the way the Northeastern Human Services Department approaches international development work because you will not engage in one of their programs without being extensively briefed on the appropriate way to conduct yourself. Though the readings and videos were discouraging at times, some of them being about why volunteers should stay out of international development, it was very important that a cautious mindset was instilled in us, especially since mission trips and international development are often glorified. It was so important to me that I learned the potential flaws in my mentality and approach so that over time, international development work will be conducted in a more socially responsible way.

Written By

Maegan Cross

My name is Maegan, and I couldn't possibly be more excited to be embarking on this once-in-a-lifetime journey to Zambia with my peers and some truly incredible faculty members. I am a second year Politics, Philosophy, and Economics major with a minor in Human Services. My program on this DOC is Driving Social Change. Although I someday hope to work domestically in the fields of economic policy, income inequality, and human rights law, I know that this is going to be an invaluable experience for me because I will get hands-on experience in third-party intervention strategies. I, like so many other Northeastern students, want to work for the federal government so I can incite positive social change that will benefit the least-advantaged, oppressed, underrepresented members of our society. However, a huge factor in my ability to accomplish my goals is that I, as I am not myself a member of many of the populations I will be working to serve, am limited in my understanding of the needs of these people. This is why learning foreign intervention strategies is so important to me. My work developing programs for youths in a Zambian nonprofit will teach me best practice for understanding the needs of a community and implementing programs that will fulfill what the people need, not just what I, or any other person coming from a place of privilege, think they need. The skills I learn in Zambia will fuel my ability to advance the social and economic well-being of minority communities in my own country, and allow me to be the most positive ally I can possibly be.