Mrs. Tamika Farmer
Edgecombe County

”Today was truly one of the most unforgettable days of my life, and my heart is overflowing with gratitude. I am incredibly thankful to the Arlane Gordon-Bray Global Teacher Fellowship for sponsoring me through Global NC and providing me with this extraordinary opportunity. As a fourth-grade math teacher from Edgecombe County, North Carolina, this journey has already broadened my perspective in ways I never imagined.

Our day began with a safari through Chobe National Park in Botswana, and it felt like stepping into a wildlife documentary. Seeing animals in their natural habitats was breathtaking. We encountered lions resting beneath the trees; giraffes reaching high into the treetops; herds of impalas and buffaloes roaming freely; playful baboons; kudus; a jackal; and the lilac-breasted roller, whose vibrant colors seemed almost unreal.

There is something incredibly humbling about observing these magnificent creatures living as they were created to live, free and undisturbed. Pictures and videos could never capture the emotions I felt as I watched nature unfold before my eyes. It reminded me of the beauty, balance, and diversity of our world. This once-in-a-lifetime experience deepened my appreciation for wildlife conservation and the importance of protecting our planet for future generations.

Later in the day, we visited the Children in the Wilderness program at the Lupane Primary School. Children in the Wilderness is an environmental and life skills education program that was established to inspire young people living near wildlife areas to become future leaders and caretakers of their natural heritage. The program teaches students about environmental stewardship while building confidence, leadership, and a sense of responsibility for their communities.

From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with incredible warmth. The students greeted us with joyful songs and traditional dances that told meaningful stories about their culture and community. Their enthusiasm, pride, and hospitality immediately made us feel at home. It was a beautiful reminder that education extends far beyond textbooks. It also includes preserving traditions, celebrating culture, and building strong communities.

I also had the privilege of sitting down with the schoolmaster, teachers, and my fellow Global NC colleagues to learn more about their educational practices and school culture. Although schools in Lupani and North Carolina share the same goal of helping students succeed academically and personally, there are meaningful differences. Their schools place a strong emphasis on environmental education, community involvement, and connecting classroom learning to the natural world. Despite differences in resources and learning environments, I was inspired by the teachers’ creativity, dedication, and commitment to engaging every child.

One of the highlights of my visit was observing the school’s Eco Club during a lesson on photosynthesis. Students worked together to build the word “photosynthesis” and then used vocabulary words to explain each step of the process. The lesson was highly interactive, encouraged collaboration, and challenged students to think critically while actively participating in their learning. It was exciting to see students confidently explaining scientific concepts to one another in such an engaging way.

As I reflect on today’s experiences, I cannot help but think about my own students back in North Carolina. This program has given me fresh ideas for creating more interactive, collaborative lessons that encourage critical thinking and real-world connections. Whether through hands-on activities, cooperative learning, or incorporating global perspectives into our classroom discussions, I want my students to understand that learning has no boundaries. I also hope to inspire them to appreciate different cultures, care for our environment, and become responsible global citizens.

Today reminded me that education is a universal language. No matter where we are in the world, passionate educators share the same mission to empower students to learn, grow, and make a positive impact. I look forward to bringing these experiences back to Edgecombe County and sharing them with my students, colleagues, and community.”

Ms. Jessica Tanner
Durham County

“If someone came to your home and asked, “What do you want me to know about you?” what would you say? How you choose to answer says a lot about you, how you see yourself, and what you value. As we journey through Southern Africa on the Global NC Program, the people of Africa have welcomed us with open arms and hearts and shown us who they are. Today, through our visits in Botswana and Zambia, I saw that the people of this region have a strong cultural identity that helps bind them together into a community working for a better tomorrow.

We began the day with a game drive through Chobe National Park in Botswana. Our guide led us to see two prides of lions, giraffes, and more impala than you could count. We learned that ecotourism has become a major economic power in the local economy, and conservation efforts are about financial opportunity as much as environmental stewardship. Protecting these amazing animals is a way to choose a regional identity and forge a new path for the people who live here.

After the game drive, we transitioned into Zambia and visited a local public primary school run by a conservation organization called Children in the Wilderness. Lupane School sits about an hour outside of Livingstone, Zambia, in a rural area with over 50% unemployment. It serves over 500 students in grades 1–7 in classes with one teacher and over sixty students. The open-air buildings encourage students to use the outside world as a classroom, and traditional subjects are taught at the same time as conservation and environmental stewardship.

The students greeted us with traditional dances from their culture, accompanied by singing and drumming, and then we sat with the staff to exchange ideas and learn more about what they do. Caroline, one of the Global Teachers, asked them, “What would you like me to know about you to take home to share with my students?” I expected an answer that reflected their 90% passing rate or their effective teaching practices. Instead, the teachers said that they wanted us to know about a Tonga ritual to bring rain, the Lozi rite of Kuomboka—celebrated when the rains return and the tribe must move to higher ground—and Ng’ombe Ilede, a beloved cultural heritage site in Zambia. They didn’t want us to know about what they do; they wanted us to know about who they are.

The people of Botswana and Zambia are proud of their histories and traditions, but I have come to learn that they are also forward-thinking people, striving for a more prosperous future for their children and their societies as a whole. The push toward an economy based on ecotourism acknowledges that the abundance and beauty of this land must be cherished in a way that benefits the people and helps move them toward prosperity. They are choosing to change the way they have traditionally done things while valuing the aspects of culture and history that celebrate their identity as a people.

Children in the Wilderness and the schools they partner with aren’t asking their pupils to give up their cultural identity, and as a music teacher, I’m heartened to see the arts and cultural practices incorporated into learning. As a matter of fact, the arts are one of the vocational paths students can now choose in secondary school. What we teach children shows them what we value, and how we teach them shows them that they are valued. We came to Lupani today and asked them to show us who they were, and they showed us that they are a people with one foot planted firmly in the past and one foot stepping boldly into a bright future.

On a personal note, I would like to thank the Borchardt Award, without whom I would not be able to take this incredible journey of discovery and reflection. This experience is helping me grow as an educator and a person, and I am thrilled to have this opportunity to bring a part of the world back to share with my students! I know that the knowledge and wisdom I am gaining and the inspiration I have to create new learning experiences for my students will last me for the rest of my career and life. My deepest thanks to you!”