Ms. Jamesia Brown
Mitchell County

”Over the last 12 days, I have been given the extraordinary opportunity to build meaningful relationships with educators from across North Carolina and Southern Africa, observe and teach in schools throughout Southern Africa, develop a deeper cultural awareness, and experience wildlife up close that I had previously only seen in zoos and books.

The Global Teachers – Southern Africa 2026 program brought together educators from across North Carolina with a wide variety of certifications, grade levels, and teaching experiences. Very few members of the group knew one another before joining the program, yet by the end of our journey we had transformed from strangers into family. It is a family bound together by shared experiences and a deep understanding of how this journey has challenged, inspired, and changed each of us.

From the very first day, you could walk past small groups of teachers introducing themselves, sharing their excitement and nervousness about the experiences ahead, discussing the goals they hoped to accomplish, and exchanging ideas they wanted to bring back to their own schools and classrooms. Those conversations quickly grew into genuine friendships built on encouragement, collaboration, and mutual respect.

Going into this program, I knew we would be observing schools and teachers throughout Southern Africa. What I did not realize was that we would also have the opportunity to teach lessons in some of those classrooms. It quickly became clear that these teachers are kindred spirits in the world of education. They teach from the heart, bringing passion, patience, and encouragement to their students every single day.

Many of the classrooms had 40 or more students with only one teacher, yet they were filled with energy, respect, and a genuine excitement for learning. Even more remarkable was the trust these teachers placed in us. They welcomed complete strangers into their classrooms, not only to observe but also to lead lessons with their students.

When I was handed the lesson book, I felt like a first-year teacher all over again. I was nervous and worried that I would make a mistake, often checking with the classroom teacher to make sure what I was doing was okay. Each time, she simply smiled and said, “You are the teacher.”

Her confidence in me gave me confidence in myself. Teaching the lesson became a joyful experience because she had created a classroom culture where students were respectful, engaged, and eager to learn.

This experience reminded me that learning goes both ways. In the future, when educators visit my classroom, I want to invite them to teach and interact with my students rather than simply observe. By stepping into the role of teacher, they can experience the classroom in a much deeper way, and both they and my students will benefit from the opportunity.

Through this entire experience, I have gained a much deeper awareness of the wealth of culture, history, and diversity that make up Southern Africa. In South Africa, we learned about the recent history of apartheid and how it has shaped the nation. Our travel guide brought this history to life through his firsthand experience, giving us a powerful and personal perspective.

Many of the schools we visited performed songs in their native languages, shared traditional dances, and played drums so that we could experience their cultures firsthand. We were also able to go on a safari and a boat cruise that brought us up close to wildlife, allowing us to see how majestic these animals are while also learning how they interact with nearby villages in ways that are both helpful and sometimes challenging.

Southern Africa is a place that feels vast not only in geography but also in culture, history, and heart. It is a region filled with warmth, hospitality, and a deep sense of connection among its people.

So on this final day, as I sit and watch the sunrise one last time over Victoria Falls, I find myself reflecting on how much I have grown as both an educator and a citizen of the world. As we conclude the 2026 immersion portion of the program, I know these connections are only the beginning. The relationships I have built with these incredible educators have created a network of colleagues and friends who will continue to support, inspire, and learn from one another long after our time in Southern Africa has ended. While this chapter of the journey is coming to a close, I believe the foundation we have built together will continue to grow for years to come. Thank you to the Mitchell County Global Teacher Fellowship for allowing me to participate in this meaningful professional development program.”

Ms. Georgia Holley
Rutherford County

“Emotions were big as we began making our way home from our amazing experience in Southern Africa. We were sad to say goodbye to newfound friends while excited to see loved ones back in North Carolina. Fatigue and excitement found a way to co-exist while our minds were filled from our time on such a beautiful continent. It was hard to leave, but we knew that we were taking a big part of Africa home in our hearts.

Some of our group began the day watching the sun rise over Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. They were amazed, once again, by the natural beauty of this continent. Our groups departed mid-morning for the first leg of our journey home. From there we flew to Johannesburg, Southern Africa, where we spent a fun 10 hours in the airport.

While at the airport, Jonathan led our last group reflection. We agreed that the people of Southern Africa are kind, resilient, joyous, and committed to community. Although they face many struggles, the people we met value education, their history, and the environment. Our group is concerned that the people of Southern Africa do not seem to reap many of the benefits of the riches all around them. We all agreed that our lives will be forever changed by this once-in-a-lifetime experience. We teachers look forward to continuing the friendships we have forged as we plan the many ways we will bring the Global NC program into our classrooms this fall.

There is no doubt that the memories of this experience will last for the rest of my life. It is my fervent hope, however, that I do not forget the lessons I learned, both in my head and in my heart, while in Southern Africa. The first lesson I will take home is Ubuntu, “I am because we are.” This is not simply a proverb; it is a creed. It is a way of living one’s life that I want to follow in the days and years to come. I also learned that joy can be found anywhere. It is easy to be awed by natural wonders like Victoria Falls, but I want to remember the pure joy that three little girls and I found while acting out the book, Tommy the Tortoise. While on this program, I saw people sing and smile and dance even when their lives were hard. That is a lesson I hope to embody as I return to my life back in the States. 

One last reflection is that traveling with teachers is FUN! This group of professionals loves to learn and grow with each new experience. We did not wait for someone to point out tasks to be completed; we just stepped in and did what was needed. We laughed and cried together, and we took care of one another throughout our time together. I am so grateful I was able to experience Southern Africa with this incredible group of individuals.

Our group finally boarded our plane for Newark and will land in the USA on our country’s 250th birthday. Traveling abroad brings a new appreciation for and understanding of our great nation. I am forever indebted to theThe James G. K. McClure Educational & Development Fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina for giving me the experience of a lifetime. I look forward to sharing this experience with the students, teachers, and citizens of Rutherford County.”

Ms. Kimberly Dunlow
Chowan County

“As we are riding in our transport to the Victoria Falls airport in Zimbabwe, passing one of the world’s 7 wonders, I find myself looking out the window, expecting to see a beautiful wild creature come walking out of the bush or to see a beautiful lady with a bundle being hauled on her head while her baby is tied to her back with her chitenge. Hello friends, my name is Kimberly Dunlow, and this is just a small picture of how our days have been here in Africa. 

Each day here in Southern Africa has unfolded in tremendous ways, and this will be an experience of a lifetime that I will always remember. Along for this ride have been our faithful guides (Snowy, Reason, KJ, and Keith), whose wisdom, knowledge, stories, and experiences have been passed on to us. At each school we visited, we encountered delightful and welcoming teachers who have welcomed us into their classrooms and shared their school culture. The people we have encountered along the way, from the people in the markets to the hotel staff members, have shared piece by piece of their daily culture with us, whether by intention or by accident. We have seen sights that, as a believer in God, can only be described as miraculous and awe-inspiring. 

Through this program, I have helped teach in foreign classrooms; sung songs with my fellow travelers/friends; seen beautiful wild animals in their natural protected environments; learned about the struggles that people have faced and are still facing; learned to carry a baby like an African woman; touched/fed an elephant family; been a member of a delegation with members of the Ministry of Education of Zambia; helped serve a meal to students we had just bonded with; seen a rainbow in the midst of a huge epic natural waterfall; and learned so much about how the African culture is based on belief and respect. 

As a program group, we have had heart-to-heart conversations; shared things about each of our lives; shared inside jokes; shed tears together; cheered each other on; protected each other while in foreign customs, toilet rooms, and airports; watched each other’s backs; shared chips and desserts; laughed together so much; and survived 6 flights together. We have country-hopped around 10 times while visiting 5 countries, 3 continents, 6 flights, 5 schools, an orphanage, museums, and churches and bought numerous souvenirs along the way. We have been like sponges, just like our students, soaking up all the information they have imparted to us, and I believe that each of us has been changed in some way by this experience. We have all left a piece, however big, of ourselves in some part of Africa, and the people we met and the experiences that we went through together have brought us as program participants closer and have left an impression on our hearts. 

To our panel of program leaders, thank you for choosing me and entrusting me to be a part of this group and this experience. 

To the Simple Gifts Fund Award, you may have given a simple gift, but it isn’t simple to me. It is a profound and life-changing experience that you have given me through your generosity. 

To my fellow program members, you are each unique, special, beautiful human beings who have become confidants, protectors, and friends. 

Now, it’s time to bring my pictures, my souvenirs, my passport stamps, my heart, and my memories back home. 

USA….here we come!”