Category — Students

Wake-up call

by Audrey Vanasse-Bédard

This trip was important to me because it was a wake-up call. Experiencing and studying a different culture is imperative to understanding the underlying causes of numerous economic and social problems that affect among others education, women’s rights, health, and poverty. By seeing firsthand these issues it was much better for me to understand and evaluate them than being in a classroom and learning about these same issues. Now, in Montreal, I am looking forward to share my experience with fellow classmates, family members, and friends and raise awareness about global issues.

Regarding the educational system I encountered, I think much works needs to be done, and many other factors not necessarily revolving around education directly have a major impact on the system. For example, many of the villages are situated very far away from schools and many kids have to walk many miles in order to get to school. This becomes more and more difficult when the children’s household chores increase they put school on the back burner. Many families also have some trouble paying school fees, especially if they have numerous kids. Most obviously, there is a lack of resources, one teacher for a large amount of students, many classrooms have no desks, chairs, or blackboards, and classes of 60 or more students have to share 6-10 textbooks among themselves. What impressed me the most was the students’ willingness to learn despite all these setbacks. Children would wake up at 5 o’clock in the morning and do their chores and then walk to school. Students who lived very far from the schools would even stay in crammed hostels.

I think this trip will definitely affect the decisions I make or the actions I take for the rest of my life. After witnessing such strength and determination from these children and individuals I have absolutely no excuse than to give my best at whatever I do because I am fortunate enough to have many opportunities present themselves at me contrary to these students. In the immediate future I definitely see myself traveling some more to gain more knowledge and insight on different cultures and how it affects their way of life.  In the long run I’d like to use the knowledge I have gained to help bring aid in some way to countries like Malawi that are still developing!