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Jambo! Today started off with breakfast at sunrise, and I will never get tired of seeing the beautiful sunrises and sunsets over Lake Tanganyika. We were then taken to meet various government officials from the Buhigwe District, including those specializing in health and sanitation and education. We spoke to them about our service project and showed them the solar-powered cars we planned to build with the students and the hygiene kits we prepared for distribution. The journey to Buhigwe was very long and bumpy. Although it was a long drive, it was fascinating to peer out of the window and take in all of the scenery. I got to see the beautiful hills, different villages, and even the view of another country during the two-hour journey. As we got closer to the school, we had to travel off-road, which is where all the bumps and dust began to appear. The rattling of our seats and bodies, let me know we were close to our destination. When we arrived at the Buhigwe school, we were warmly greeted by village and school leaders. We shared our plans with them, and they were so kind and excited about the impact we would have on the kids. We received a tour of the school, and the school leaders proudly showed us the new bathrooms they are building for the girls, which was a much-needed facility for the young girls at the school. They will now have female-only restrooms and a private room to change for their sanitary needs. We ended the day with dinner and even got to see a zebra right by the pool! This place and people are amazing, so blessed to be here! Siara Lewis Cohart 2024
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It all began with Rotary, thanks to one man who saw potential in me. Big shoutout to Christian, he’s the one with true vision and potential. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that I’m going to Africa. This is beyond amazing! I’m so excited to see what Leading With Love is all about. The girls seem really cool, and I can’t wait to build a strong bond with them. I hope this cultural immersion teaches me a lot and gives me something valuable to bring back to my little brother. I want to show him that there’s so much more to the world out there. My head is filled with so many questions, nerves, and fears, but we’re going to push through that. Dr. Alexander is someone I’m really looking forward to getting closer to. She’s so funny and full of good energy, I love her spirit. And Ms. Dwanita feels like another mother, guiding us through this journey. I’m still kind of scared of the plane rides, but I’d rather experience them with people I’m getting to know than with strangers I’ve never met, like when I join the Navy. We’re going to try to leave fear at home and keep pushing forward with faith. I hope this trip is safe and treats us well. It’s a big step, and I know it will be filled with unforgettable experiences. I can’t wait to immerse myself in the culture, learn new things, and make memories that will last a lifetime. This journey is not just about me, it’s about bringing back lessons and experiences to share with my little brother, and showing him that there’s a BIG world full of opportunities and adventures. With every step, I’ll be thinking about how to make the most of this incredible opportunity, growing closer to my travel buddies and mentors. This trip is going to be a transformative experience, and I am ready to embrace it with an open heart and mind. Antwaniya Massie Cohort 2024 I can’t believe we’re leaving soon. It still doesn’t feel real, like I’m really leaving to go to Africa. Like I’m actually traveling with a group of people and staying with them for a whole week. That alone is such a new experience for me. I’m so grateful for Christian, you all might have heard of him already, but he is the main reason I have this opportunity to go to Africa. The fact that he saw so much potential and talent in me, and chose me to be part of this organization, means so much. I’ll be honest, I’m nervous. This is my first time being on a plane, my first time outside the country, and so many other firsts. But more than anything, I’m grateful for this experience and the chance to learn about new cultures, languages, people, and how they dress. I hope to gain new knowledge. I hope to build new friendships and get to know the adults who are going with us. Honestly, I wasn’t nervous about leaving at first, but now that it’s getting real, the nerves are starting to kick in. Still, I’m looking forward to seeing the different villages and experiencing how people live in Tanzania. I heard that the hotel in Kigoma where we’re staying has animals on the property, so I’m expecting to see animals I’d never see here in Miami. I’m also excited to try new foods and learn how people do things differently over there. I’ve also heard about the water situation, and I know I’ll have to get used to using bottled water. I’m looking forward to hearing more about that from Zanzabair and Mrs. Dwanita. I’m leaving with an open mind and I’m ready to step out of my comfort zone. Oldina Bigot Cohort 2024  We leave for Africa in a couple of days, and I am very excited. Throughout the entire process, applying for the trip, completing my documents, and attending the leadership institute, I was never nervous, only excited. But now, I’m starting to feel a little nervous. I’m not nervous about leaving; I’m more scared of anything bad happening or getting sick. Still, I know I will have a great time, and I can’t wait to experience the amazing opportunities ahead. During this cultural immersion, I hope to gain a better understanding of African culture. In school and in the media, I’ve mostly heard negative things about Africa, so I’m really looking forward to forming my own perspective. I’ve learned about a lot of African countries, but I’ve never heard much about Tanzania, so I’m especially interested in learning more about it. I hope to form lasting friendships with the other girls going on the trip and make awesome memories along the way. I’ve never traveled outside of the country or to a different time zone before, so I expect my body will need some time to adjust to the seven-hour time difference. I also hope there isn’t too much of a language barrier in Tanzania and that I’ll still be able to communicate well with the people there. I’m really looking forward to visiting the villages and seeing how people live in Tanzania. I’m also excited about going on a safari to see the animals. I’m not expecting to see any specific animals so I don’t get my hopes up, I’ll be happy to see any of them! I can’t wait to meet the students, give them hygiene kits, and build solar-powered cars together. Overall, I want to gain a deeper understanding of the world beyond America. I know this trip will benefit me both personally and professionally. I hope it helps me become more open-minded in everything I do after stepping outside of my comfort zone. Siara Lewis Cohort 2024 I'm feeling incredibly excited as our departure is less than two weeks away! It's hard to believe that this will be my first time traveling abroad, not just for leisure but to make a positive impact in the community. I have to admit, I got a bit emotional and teary-eyed thinking about the upcoming travel and being away from the familiar for an extended period. However, I've come to realize that this journey will be something truly special and unforgettable. I hope to gain a deeper appreciation for diverse cultures through this experience. I am particularly looking forward to trying out the various cuisines, especially since I've discovered that Tanzanian cuisine has influences from Indian cuisine as well. I also hope that this trip will help me enhance my leadership skills. Today, I plan to go shopping for the items on the packing list. I already have the clothes I know I can bring, but I still have to add more items. I am extremely excited about immersing myself in the art, culture, and breathtaking scenery that await me. I am very confident that the other Love Leaders and I will bond easily throughout our meetings. We have already started a bond and created our sisterhood. Each girl has a unique personality that is interesting to learn about. I feel that this trip will bring us closer and help us build connections that will last throughout our adult years. So far, we have already started bonding and made a group chat where we discuss the trip as well as our academic achievements and personal topics. Emori Dennis Cohort 2024 Today we hopped on the bus and traveled 30 mins to Coconut Hound Haven. When we arrived at Coconut Hound Haven, we met Daniela, one of the directors. As we walked through the gate our ears flooded with dog barks. It wasn’t until this point that we learned who was a true dog lover and who did not like dogs. The dog lover in me instantly wanted to adopt all of the dogs and take them home. We gathered around Daniela to receive our tasks for the day. Five of us were assigned to bathe dogs, two of us would be planting trees, and the rest would be walking dogs. I volunteered to plant and got straight to work. We entered the backyard area where larger and more active dogs were kept. As soon as I entered the planting area, 5 dogs jumped on me, others tried biting my hands, while shy dogs ran away and hid. Not only was I able to plant trees that will eventually provide shade for the dogs, but I also established a strong and affectionate connection between the dogs. After planting 2 trees, I cleaned one of the dog cages which is where the dogs sleep at night. When we arrived back at the house, we announced the raffle winners through Instagram live which was a fun experience. Victoria Bofill Cohort 2023    Today is July 20, 2023. Now today wasn’t exactly my favorite day but I still got a chance to give service in some way. I have always had the worst experiences with dogs from being bitten to being chased by four dogs all at once. I even grasped onto Victoria when one of the dogs jumped the gate to fight another dog. It was hilarious, but still very frightening. I did end up meeting the first and probably last dog that I will ever like and that was Duque. I guess he could sense my fear and sat in front of me to protect me from the other dogs. Even though I was still terrified, I appreciated Duque’s protectiveness. Maybe this will be the catalyst that changes the way I see dogs. Who knows? I didn’t get to be of much service because of my fear, but I did give Duque some water and considering my history with dogs, that’s was lot! Ameerah Thomas Cohort 2023    Today was a very productive day volunteering at Soy Niña, Soy Importante. Seeing everyone just so happy to be present in the moment with great laughs and smiles makes me even happier to be here.. Having the opportunity to experience 2 workshops with them was amazing. Seeing how excited they were to launch their bottle rocket and getting to know them by the affirmations they chose for themselves was truly heartwarming. After the two workshops, they offered us an opportunity to stay and have lunch with them. I loved eating with the girls because we could freely interact without an agenda or workshop. Their staff was so kind and insisted that we ate before we left, but before we could leave, we participated in the Soy Nina, Soy Importante tradition of singing, dancing, and doing the limbo. Overall, it was a great time being with them. After community service, we went home to refresh, then went to a dance class to learn a traditional Dominican Dance, La Bachata. At the beginning of the class, I was enthusiastic and eager to learn, but by then end of the session, I was over it. The moves were getting more complicated and my legs weren’t doing their job, LOL. But other than that, it was a fun experience and of course the other Global Love Leaders made it even more fun. They cracked jokes to make me and others laugh, which I’d say I’m really grateful to have shared a laugh with them. We then went home to refresh and enjoy dinner together. We had salmon, steak, and potatoes, which was delicious. Being at the dinner table brings so much joy to me because we are all together at the same time, enjoying what others have to share about their day both good and bad. It’s a real sisterhood and I love it. Doing community service, and sharing moments of joy, laughter and challenges was the highlight of this day. After dinner, we meditated and journaled about gratitude. I honestly enjoyed journaling about gratitude. I was so grateful for everything, I began to cry. I felt so emotional and overjoyed with gratitude. What a blessing! After journaling, we headed to bed to rest. That was our day of sisterhood and service. Amy Rodriguez Cohort 2023     I've always had the opportunity to work with children. Children are incredibly happy and full of energy. As I've met more children, I've been inspired to teach and learn more about them. Today, I got the chance to visit a summer camp in Miches called "Soy Niña, Soy Important," which means I am a girl and I am important. I started crying because of how I felt when these girls screamed those words. I frequently hear the statements ``you matter" or "everyone matters," yet I have never in my life heard it with such power. It was extremely lovely to see little girls between the ages of 8 and 10 understand the value of being girls and being able to recognize it. It brought me so much joy to talk to them. The girls were all interested in me and wanted to know what languages I spoke, my hair, my friends, and what I enjoy doing in my spare time.. The science project was a blast, LITERALLY for the girls in my group, but they enjoyed getting to know me and the other Global Love Leaders even more. It was really uplifting to observe them behave so enthusiastically around other girls. I had a great time today and will always treasure the time I spent with them. I will undoubtedly return to Miches to work with the girls. I am very grateful to have been someone who ultimately gave them a great day! Carmen Berrio Cohort 2023    Today is July 18, 2023. We began our day with a hearty breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and eggs because we knew we were going to need a lot of strength to make it through the eventful day. We left the villa to enter an amazing experience at the Scape Park Adventure Park. Once we entered the Park, we went to the Hoyo Azul, which is known for having a cave with nice views. In Hoyo Azul we had the opportunity to jump in the 49ft deep water cave which I overcame a fear of deep water dives. I’m glad the love leaders encouraged me to jump because I was extremely hesitant. They chanted my name from the water below and shouted “you can do it Debbie!”. With all of their encouragement, I leapt forward and plunged into the beautiful blue water cave. The water below was so COLD, but I swam to my sisters and rejoiced because I was so proud of myself. After our group dip in the Hoyo Azul, we took a 1.5 mile hike to the zipline area. While ziplining, we had the chance to see the whole park! I took in all the captivating views and took full advantage of the opportunity to connect with nature. When we arrived at the ziplining platform, I decided to be the first person to zipline to encourage other Love Leaders, in case some of them were afraid. I loved ziplining because it was an adventurous way to see the entire park from above. At times, you could see all the way to the ocean. After ziplining, we traveled to the other side of the park where we visited another cave to take a dip. To enter the Cave Swim we encountered a path called the Cultural Route where it was my first time observing big rocks (used as chairs) gathered in a spread out circle. The Cultural Route had several old living spaces and community areas used by the natives of the country. We could imagine what it would be like to be a villager of the country prior to colonization. When we entered the Cave, I noticed it was not that deep, but boy was it freezing cold. It must have been like 60 degrees in that water. We splashed around the cave for a while until we couldn’t take the temperature any longer. Last up on the adventure tour was Saltos Azules. Saltos Azules included an obstacle called the Trapezio Mabey. Many of the Global Love Leaders including myself, were a bit nervous, better yet terrified about doing it. I observed the other Love Leaders doing it and figured if they could do it, so could I. Lucky for me, I ended up being the last person to jump before the park closed. So I held on to the handles and went for it. Once the whistle blows, you’re supposed to let go of the handles and fall into the Saltos Azules. The jump was invigorating and I am so glad that I was able to overcome my fear with my sisters. Splash, splash to a wonderful day full of adventure! Debbie Campos Cohort 2023   |