In print | Published April 29, 2010

Most of what we hear about of Africa—in the classrooms or on the news—is negative. From conflict to HIV/AIDS to famine. For many of us, images of starving children covered in flies are burned into our brains after years and years of infomercials. And while these problems are very real, we almost never hear anything positive about the continent.

When my partner, Danielle Nierenberg, and I departed last October to visit nearly every country on the continent, I really didn’t know what to expect. I was like many students and Americans who choose not to travel there (beyond a vacation safari or the World Cup) out of fear of the unknown. Yet, as we travel from rural villages to cities, we are seeing incredible innovations where African-led projects are lifting entire communities from poverty. We are traveling on a shoestring budget, meeting with farmers, NGOs, workers, governments and other organizations, and publicizing things that are working on Danielle’s blog for the Worldwatch Institute’s Nourishing the Planet (www.nourishingtheplanet.org) project. Every day she is writing about stories of hope taking places across the continent. The project will culminate in Worldwatch’s annual flagship publication, State of the World 2011: Innovations that Nourish the Planet, which will provide a roadmap for alleviating hunger and poverty.

For starters the people go out of their way to welcome us into their communities, genuinely opening up their homes, and sharing their stories with us. Also, we nearly always feel safe, with no incidents (knock on wood) of theft or crime. Finally, everyday we are learning so much—far more that I ever learned in the classroom. Interacting with people in their communities, breaking bread, sharing hopes and dreams—is unlike any education you can get anywhere else.

As spring semester slowly winds down, I urge you to consider seeing Africa for yourselves. Here are some innovative ways and tips to help you get your hands in African soil, safely traveling the continent no matter what stage of college you are in.

If you are looking for something this summer and curious about Madagascar (we fell in love with the capital city Antanarivo)—you might want out check out Reef Doctor, where you get free diving training and certification, and conduct hands on marine research, working with local fishing communities in the third largest coral reef system in the world.

If you are looking for something this fall, WorldTeach runs a terrific semester program in Namibia. You can teach a number of different courses for elementary and high school children including English, math, science, and computer studies. At the end of the experience, make sure to hand out in Africa a bit longer, by taking the Intercape bus company to Cape Town for winter break.

Finally, if you are ready to graduate and want to dedicate two years to helping people in Africa, check out the Peace Corps. Not only will they place you with a community, but they will also provide you with free medical services while on assignment, as well as payments towards your student loans.

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