I thought I had a lot to offer. But I have even more to learn.
In January 2017, I made my first trip to Africa as part of a tiny nonprofit called I Am Zambia. For years, I’d watched the endeavors of a good friend, Heidi, who traveled to Zambia with another nonprofit. I felt that Africa called to me, but I had no travel money or anything to offer. Then, Heidi co-founded I Am Zambia, focusing on educating young women to give them more options. The nonprofit purchased land within Mwembeshi village with the intent of building an elementary school with an attached farm to address food insecurity. Suddenly, I could help — and I Am Zambia wanted my help!
Before that first trip, I created a business plan based on climate research and my farming knowledge. And boy, was it ambitious! I wanted saffron and moringa for cash crops, mango and guava trees shading the school building, hot composting, and organic seed-starting. The school would keep chickens, goats, and rabbits for meat and manure. I even had landscaping plans to avoid black mambas.
Heidi and I landed in Lusaka, met the Zambian administration team, and toured the land and local markets. At night, I absorbed all that I’d seen and heard. Then, I began the return trip home and sat for hours on the plane, feeling disappointed. I couldn’t pinpoint why. The trip had been amazing, so why did I feel this way?
It took two weeks after returning home to sort through my experiences and emotions. I’d gone into Zambia full of plans and zeal, before ever touching African soil. I felt I had so much to teach!
It turns out I had so much to learn before I could ever start teaching.
Now, six years later, we often see this dynamic among volunteer groups from wealthy countries. While their knowledge could help disadvantaged communities, it’s impossible to identify what someone truly needs if you don’t first listen to them and learn what they’re up against.
While reading Britney Bowman’s article in this issue about Soul to Soul Healing with Native Pollinators, I had an epiphany. Tamarya, a Black person farming Cherokee ancestral land, says, “I believe the Cherokee people have all the education, knowledge, and wisdom they need. Ultimately, I feel like I’m learning from them.” I emailed Tamarya to tell them how much I appreciated this statement, because it helped me understand my experiences in Zambia.
Since 2017, I’ve made four trips to Zambia; my husband has made three; my daughter has gone once. We met a Zambian man, from the Tonga tribe, named Brian. He helps us interpret local needs so we can address them best — in their own ways. Brian’s family has since become our family, which enriches the relationship as we partner with rural villages and marginalized communities. We work via instant messenger and email between trips. During our most recent trip, in October and November of 2021, we accomplished more than we’d achieved in all other trips combined, because we’d taken the time to learn first.
The Zambian people have the knowledge and wisdom that they need, along with generations of tradition and culture. Brian helps them to call on us, but ultimately, we’re learning from them.
May your traditions be rich and joyous,
Marissa
