UKWENDA

Walking as One with the World
Youth Expedition to Zambia

Mission Statement
To inspire hope and create relationships through meaningful service; to achieve awakenings in the walking of a different culture; to cultivate gratitude for the gifts and talents we have been given; to receive strength and knowledge in the trials and tests placed before us.

What is UKWENDA?
UKWENDA (the Bemba word for walking) is a youth expedition program under the direction of the non-profit organization Mothers Without Borders. UKWENDA was created for youth ages 16-25 and takes place in Zambia, Africa. The program is designed to increase awareness and understanding in the following areas:

1. Identifying Individual Strengths and Talents
2. Problem Solving and Team Building Skills
3. The Value of Cultural Diversity
4. The Power of Gratitude
5. The Gift of Service

Each participant will become part of a UKWENDA team. Each team is composed of up to ten youth, three experienced team leaders, and a variety of Zambian cultural teachers and leaders. As a result of participating in this unique and life-changing program, each team member will emerge with a clearer understanding and appreciation for their own gifts, talents and blessings; develop increased respect for the abilities and differences of others; learn to utilize the power of gratitude in their everyday lives; have the opportunity to solve real life problems as a member of a diverse team; and discover the joy that comes from giving service to others. They will return to their lives at home with a better perspective of our world, of what they have to offer to make it a better place, and how to make that happen.

Please note, UKWENDA is not intended to be a therapeutic rehabilitation program.

What Else? When and Where?

• The team experience is 5 weeks in length, and teams are organized throughout the year, excluding the months of December, January and February because of heavy rains.
• 4 weeks are spent in work and learning activities in and around Lusaka (the capital city of Zambia)
• 1 week will be spent traveling by bus to Livingstone, Zambia where the team will go on safari, visit the world-famous Victoria Falls, and participate in other adventure activities.

Each day is carefully planned to meet our program goals. Activities may include:

• reading and teaching literacy to teenaged street kids
• making mud bricks
• building homes and schools using local techniques and tools (a real eye opener!)
• cultivating gardens for widows
• playing soccer and other games with orphans
• conducting HIV AIDS awareness groups with teenagers from nearby villages
• hand-digging fish ponds
• planting trees in deforested areas
• raising chickens
• harvesting crops for those who are too sick to go to the fields
• Time will be spent learning a variety of cultural skills, like carving drums and weaving reed hats, story telling, African dancing and drumming

Base camp for the teams will be the Mothers Without Borders property located 20 miles west of Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. This 80-acre parcel of farmland is home to the Mothers Without Borders Family Resource and Support Center, which provides training and support to families caring for orphans in their communities; and the Children's Resource Center, home to 20 orphans and their family caregivers.

Each team will be responsible to identify a problem or need, then plan and implement a construction project at the Mothers Without Borders Children's Resource Center. They will learn to prioritize needs, identify resources, work as a team, recognize each other's strengths and weaknesses and organize tasks and responsibilities accordingly. Under the leadership of experienced local staff, they will be responsible to find solutions to the problems associated with their selected project, and will come to appreciate the conveniences and resources available to us in the U.S.!

Participants will sleep in tents, and have their meals prepared for them by local staff members. Team housing is gender and age specific, and teams are limited to 10 participants per team.

Parents are invited to join their youth for the final week of learning activities and the trip to Livingstone.

How to Apply

1. Download and complete an application for the UKWENDA expedition program.
2. Return the application to MWB at the address specified.
3. Each applicant will then receive a phone call from a Team Leader for a brief interview. For those youth who are not yet 18, a parent or guardian will also be part of the phone interview.
4. Once all parties have agreed this program is the right step, a deposit of $1000 will be requested to reserve his or her place on the team.

Please note: Applications are accepted year round, and teams will be organized to fulfill the demand.

The Cost

The program fee for the five-week program is $9,500 and does NOT include airfare. (The cost of airfare varies throughout the year, ranging from $1500-$2800 round trip, depending on your departure city and the time of year you are traveling.) Mothers Without Borders can assist you with making travel arrangements at your request. Your program fee covers the following:

• Supervision 24/7 by at least 2 experienced Team Leaders at all times within Zambia.
• Ground support from MWB Zambian staff, including Country Director, Program Managers, Social Worker, Peer Educators, drivers, security, translators, cooks.
• Team Leader supervision for travel to and from Zambia.
• Medical, emergency evacuation and travel insurance. (Trip cancellation policy can be added at your request, for an additional fee)
• Lodging, all meals, bottled water for drinking. (Extra money can be carried for sodas, sweets or extra snacks)
• All transportation within Zambia.
• Visa for entry into Zambia and Botswana (for safari).
• All supplies for work and cultural crafts.
• Food, lodging and activities in Livingstone, including 1-2 days of Safari, visit to Victoria Falls and 1-2 other adventure activities. (Activities vary by time of year and activity level of participants. Parental permission will be obtained before participation in any additional activities.)
• Local staff to act as teachers, leaders and translators.
• $2000 of your program fee goes directly to programs within Zambia to benefit orphaned and vulnerable children.

Who We Are

Kathy Headlee Miner
Founder/CEO of Mothers Without Borders, (1992) whose three-fold mission is to:

• Strengthen families caring for orphans
• Empower women
• Nurture and care for orphaned and vulnerable children

Kathy has been involved with relief and community service work for more than twenty years. Her work has included volunteer expeditions to orphanages and communities throughout the world, including Mexico, Romania, India, Indonesia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Northern Uganda, Madagascar, and Sudan.

Mothers Without Borders has been active in the field of community development and orphan care since 1992, and continues its work in Africa. MWB has 17 years of experience with volunteer expeditions, and currently offers expeditions to Zambia for those who are looking for hands on experience.

Lizzi Drake (26 yrs. old)
Team Leader

Lizzi has 6 years of experience working with teenagers and young adults in school, residential and outdoor wilderness education programs. She spent extensive time in Zambia with Mothers Without Borders implementing programs to promote the development of Zambian youth.

Jakapo Nelson (24 yrs. old)
Team Leader

Jakapo is currently working toward his degree in Recreational Therapy at Utah Valley University. He has 2 years experience of wilderness therapy, is an adventure trip leader, and a wilderness EMT.

Ramsay Beecher (29 yrs. old)
Team Leader

Ramsay currently attends Utah Valley University, where he is working towards a degree in Recreational Therapy. He has been working at Anasazi for the last 2 years, is also an adventure trip leader at UVU, and works with the Outdoor Adventure Center on campus. Ramsay is a certified EMT.