Dorcus: “Friendship does not have to be limited by borders”
Dorcus is a student based in Lusaka, Zambia, and a participant in LearnServe Global Zambia 2026.
Some journeys take you to new places, while others take you closer to people, new cultures and even to a better understanding of yourself. My Global Zambia experience was one of those journeys. It was filled with laughter, learning, friendship, challenges, excitement and memories that I know I will carry with me for a very long time.
I would like to begin by appreciating the amazing team leaders who made this experience possible: Mr Chulu, Mr Patrick, Madam Latrina, Madam Marlett, Madam Joyce, Chama, Chriad, Madam Christine and Nathan, our media personnel. Each person played an important role throughout our journey. I am especially grateful to Mr Patrick, who helped us so much with transportation and made travelling easier for us. I also deeply appreciate Madam Mahlet, who constantly checked on everyone and made sure that we were healthy, safe and comfortable throughout the trip. Nathan also did a wonderful job as our media personnel by capturing many of the special moments that we can now look back on and remember.
One of the experiences I enjoyed the most was the Meet and Greet. It was exciting to meet people from different countries and backgrounds and to have the opportunity to make new friends. I made friends such as Selam, Rosa, Niya, Xavi, Sara, Chloe and Arvion. We shared stories, laughed together and learnt about each other's cultures and beliefs. Through these conversations, I realised that although we may come from different countries, we all have our own challenges and experiences. This taught me the importance of respecting differences and appreciating the uniqueness of every person and culture.
“Although we may come from different countries, we all have our own challenges and experiences. This taught me the importance of respecting differences and appreciating the uniqueness of every person and culture”
The reflections were another meaningful part of the programme. They were a summary of what we learnt in the activities and places we visited. Achievement of goals and being passionate for every little task given and completing it successfully, gave us time to think about the experiences we were having. The activities, travelling, projects and sharing of moments made the entire programme both fun and educational. There were moments when we were tired, but even the exhaustion became part of the memories we created together.
Then came our trip to Livingstone, which became one of the most memorable parts of the entire experience. It brought us even closer together and gave us more opportunities to laugh, explore, share moments and simply enjoy each other's company. One of the special moments during our visit was when my school was presented with a book from the forest reserve in Livingstone. It was a meaningful gesture and something that made us proud because we were able to take a valuable reminder of our visit back to our school. We knew that it might be the last time some of us would see each other, so we decided to make every moment count. We turned our time together into a beautiful combination of adventure, exhaustion, laughter and unforgettable memories.
Looking back, Global Zambia taught me much more than I expected. It taught me to love, care for and be there for other people. It taught me that friendship does not have to be limited by borders, cultures, religions or differences. When people are willing to listen, learn and understand one another, beautiful friendships can grow.
“Friendship does not have to be limited by borders, cultures, religions or differences. When people are willing to listen, learn and understand one another, beautiful friendships can grow.”
For me, Global Zambia was not simply a programme or a trip. It was an experience that connected hearts, opened minds and created memories. It brought people from different parts of the world together, but it also brought us Zambians closer to one another. It created opportunities to learn, share, understand and grow.
As I look back on this journey, I realise that the places we visited may eventually become memories, the activities may come to an end, and our time together may become a story we tell in the future. But the friendships we made, the lessons we learnt, the book presented to our school and the moments we shared will remain a part of us.
Global Zambia should continue because the world needs more opportunities for young people to meet, learn from one another, celebrate their differences and build friendships across borders.
And perhaps that is the greatest gift Global Zambia gave me: not just memories of where I went, but memories of the people who made the journey worth remembering.
Until we meet again, Global Zambia — thank you for the memories, the friendships and the unforgettable journey.