South Africa Institute for Social Innovation

The Think Impact program has a unique approach to social innovation, which is based on asset evaluation and creative solutions to everyday problems with “everyday” assets. While in the village I set a goal to find a special niche and to help develop it.

In the village, there is a small factory with the unique asset of pebbles from diamond mines. Through a basic marketing strategy a team of local community members, another Scholar, and I formatted the marketing plan into a working document to strength their business.

Doringbaai is a small fishing village. My host father was a fisherman and would bring home his catch of the day for dinner. I have never had better fish in my life. My host mom would make different dishes, my favorite was the braai style. This is a cultural event in itself, like a BBQ.

During the braai the community and family members would gather round and help in the preparation of the meal. Fish, meat, and different “gumbo” type dishes would be slowly cooked over the open fire. This is an event which has deep traditions, and highlights the cultural trademark of laid back, and relaxed. Possibly the best part of braai was the bread, which was also cooked over the open flame. The bread had a crunchy exterior and absorbed the enticing fumes of the other dishes as it cooked.

I studied abroad in The Netherlands during my undergrad and interned in China after I had graduated. I was inspired both times by the opportunity to delve into a new culture and by the feeling that I got when I had figured out how to take care of myself in a completely new place.

Through both of these experiences, I felt like my mind, skills and capabilities stretched far beyond what they could have in the same amount of time if I had stayed at home. Needless to say, my study/intern abroad experiences were some of the best I’ve ever had!

One thing I would tell future scholars is to listen to the old cliché to ‘step outside of your comfort zone.’ When you’re immersed in a new culture, it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed at some points and to retreat into something you find comfortable (like spending your evening reading alone, calling home or talking to the people you already know).

It’s ok to do things that are comfortable when you need to, but taking every opportunity you can to step outside of comfortable will make your experience so much better overall. Most of my favorite memories abroad involve trying something that initially made my nervous. Like the time I ate a deep-fried scorpion at a street stall in China!