Members of the Class of 2022 visited Malawi in June for a service trip facilitated by Director of the Applied Science Certificate Program Sue Wirsig. Previously scheduled for 2020, the trip was ten days long and included traveling, doing service work at the Dzaleka refugee camp, and learning more about life in Malawi. While at the refugee camp, the group spent a lot of time with some of the children there, delivering desks designed here by Pennington students for the classrooms in Africa, giving lessons, and playing games with the Malawi students. Our group also spent time teaching them how to use donated iPads, toured the desk factory and a tailoring school, participated in a concert with local musicians, and other activities. Cultural exploration included experiences like moonlight yoga, a dance class, a visit to an animal reserve, and tours of markets and villages. 

The students were able to meet with professionals who discussed their jobs in fields including refugee advocacy, social enterprises, and the Peace Corps. The Pennington travelers offered reflections on their trip, with one saying, “I think something I took away is that we were the students and they were the teachers, and I loved that the trip went that way. It was such a learning opportunity.” We are grateful that our students were able to have this experience, and are so proud of the Pennington community’s work to help those around the world!