This winter break two faculty members and one student had the chance to head to Swaziland, Africa to visit Cabrini Ministries and teach summer camp. Bringing a junior social work and religious studies major Madeline Coutu as well as faculty members Dr. Jacqueline Lynch and Colleen Poole traveled to Swaziland. Each person had an activity to bring into the “Keys to Success” camp program in Swaziland, Africa.
After a long 16 hours flight to Africa and going into this with no expectations, the team finally made it to Cabrini Ministries in Swaziland. “When I got off the plane, I knew 10 people by name so it was a very comfortable setting,” Poole said, describing the atmosphere of the trip. Excited to get started with the “Keys to Success” seven-day summer camp, each team member prepared for the first day with the students and 100 degree weather.
Putting the language barrier aside, the students in summer camp were beyond excited to put their best foot forward during each activity. Poole, Lynch and Coutu were all asked to bring one activity to Swaziland to entertain the students.
Bringing a new United States trend to Swaziland, Poole put a color run in action for her students at camp. She said, “At first the kids tried to keep their shirts white, they didn’t get it.” But after some colored powder thrown in the air, the students started to embrace the concept of the color run. Coutu tested logic and patience with her puzzle activity at camp whereas Lynch mixed in motivational speaking and switched things up giving a chance for the students to create their own poetry reaction.”I went with no expectations and I think I came back with just a feeling of admiration and appreciation for the people and the culture,” Lynch said.
Whatever the cultural differences are between Swaziland and Radnor, there is one similarity that seems to remain constant with Poole, Lynch and Coutu. “There was one point in the week where I thought to myself that I’m halfway around the world but I feel at home,” Coutu said. “[It] wasn’t a feeling of being in the minority.”
The welcoming and supportive atmosphere Swaziland provided to Poole, Lynch and Coutu was a culture shock none of them expected but in the end, they were thankful for each part of their own experience.
As completing a five-year partnership with Cabrini Ministries over in Swaziland, Africa and impacting hundreds of lives, will this partnership continue on? With new expansions to the school grounds already in progress and a chance to expand the camp to educate more students, the need for more help might be necessary in Swaziland. The “Keys to Success” camp program has the chance to grow and teach more students to get the education they need in order to succeed.
