Pre-trip Video Journal: Stephanie Parrish

July 27th, 2009 at 9:14 am

In less than 24 hours I’ll be in D.C. getting ready to leave for Kenya with the rest of the group! As I was packing last night, the importance and meaning of this long-anticipated trip finally hit me. I’ve spent the last two years learning about Africa- its challenges and its possibilities as we move into the 21st century have inspired me to do anything and everything I can. This will be my first trip to Africa and to the developing world- all of the websites and books I’ve consulted in order to educate myself and others will finally come to life. I hope that I’ll be able to bring my own first-hand experience to ONE members through this technology!

I first began my work with ONE during my freshman year at the University of Michigan, and as I began to learn more and more about the issues, I discovered a motivation and passion stronger than anything I had previously experienced. On this trip, I’ll be focusing on Kenya’s next generation, a topic that immediately caught my interest. I will be able to connect with Kenyans my age and learn about how they see their country and their future. A lot of students might feel no connection at all to a young person in Kenya, and it’s my hope that by learning about their experiences, I will eventually be able to bridge some of the gap in understanding that exists here. I am looking forward to the trip of a lifetime and cannot wait to share it with all of you!

Kwaheri kwa sasa! (Goodbye for now!)

-Steph