AFS Global Prep- Not just a trip to Africa

I applied for the AFS Global Prep Kenya Trip the moment I first heard about it. I knew it would be a great experience but little did I know how much it would really change my life.

This is not just a fun summer trip where you see animals on safari. No, it is so much more than that. This program immerges you into the Kenyan culture, introduces a new and completely unfamiliar world, and shows you the wilds of Africa all at the same time. It’s not just about feeding giraffes or petting baby elephants, it’s about learning the real ness of animal conservation in Africa today. This program showed me the realities of threatened species and the conservation efforts that are helping to save them. This program lets you interact and meet conservationalists from around the world who dedicate themselves to saving the world’s most iconic species. Aside from the animals, living with a host family in a country like Kenya is something I will cherish forever. It allowed me to truly understand the Kenyan way of life. I made some incredible friends that I consider to be my family members. We still keep in close touch even after two years apart.

Going back isn’t just a ‘maybe,’ it’s a 100 percent certainty. I am determined and hopeful that I can one day return to Kenya and reunite with my new friends and family. I highly recommend this program to anyone who has wanderlust, anyone who wants to experience an entirely new culture, and anyone who wants to change the way they see the world.