@ www.theotherpress.ca News Working hard to make a difference: Zambia trip students Global Leadership Program students blogging their experiences By Dylan Hackett, News Editor he nine Douglas students “Te arrived in the Southern African Republic of Zambia have been actively blogging their experiences in volunteering with various affiliated aid and educational groups. The Global Leadership Program students are participating in three-month internships with aid groups including FINCA International, YMCA Third World Images Project, Play 4 All, and the Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation. “So far, I’ve helped out in almost every grade, and all the kids are very friendly and curious about me,” blogged Jane Secretaria, most is when I’m doing data entry and I can see names of women who are my age, HIV positive and pregnant with babies,” wrote Driedger. “I can’t even imagine being in that position right now, but all the Zambian woman I've met are unbelievably strong and are able to rise to any challenge.” The students also visited neighbouring country Botswana and its famed Chobe National Park, an area which is claimed to have one of the largest concentrations of wildlife in the whole of Africa. Emma Hughes, YMCA intern, provided an insightful account of the safari at Chobe. “As we drove into the park a family of Baboons crossed the “The students also visited neighbouring country Botswana and its famed Chobe National Park, an area which is claimed to have one of the largest concentrations of wildlife in the whole of Africa.” MEF intern. “Yesterday, I finished marking grade 1 arithmetic and ended up having a dozen girls all running their fingers through my hair and petting me (including any exposed skin, like my forearms, shins, and calves). I tried to convince them that their hair is so beautiful too, but they weren’t hearin’ any of it.” While many of the students on the trip have had positive reflections on the humbleness and lack of materialism within the many tribes of Zambia, some accounts of the impact of the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic have also affected the outlook of the interning students including Keanna Driedger, working with the Community Home Based Care Initiative in Kitwe. “The thing that hurts me the street right next to our cat,” wrote Hughes. “About a third of the way into our safari we turned a corner and noticed vultures circling overhead along with an incredibly horrible stench. It was a dead elephant. “The entire elephant family, babies and elderly alike, stood silently beside the body warding off the vultures. Lions were stalking nearby in the bush waiting for the family to leave. Eventually the family of elephants decided to leave, with one last stroke of their trunk across the body they left in a silent procession in front of our jeep.” The students return to Canada in August. Their blogs can be read at www.douglife.ca/zambia- blog-2012. Author visits Douglas Toastmasters Club By Naomi Ambrose, Contributor he Douglas Toastmasters Club invited a special guest to their July 3 meeting— bestselling author and speaker Monica Regan. Regan, who wrote the self-help book “The Dream Power Goal System: Five Steps for How to Achieve Any Goal, Guaranteed!” was asked to speak to an open meeting for the club, staff, and students at the club’s meeting on the New Westminster campus. “T wanted to bring professional speakers to the club and to show that Toastmasters is a wonderful organization where members can improve their communication and leadership skills” said club mentor, Michelle Leong. Regan, who has a background in psychology and education whatever they choose in this world. “Toastmasters is a gift that anyone who is attracted to it should not miss the opportunity to jump onboard. It is a powerful and amazing tool for developing skills, building support in your life and boosting your confidence. I have nothing but good things to say about Toastmasters.” Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches communication and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. The organization currently has more than 260,000 members in approximately 12,500 clubs in 113 countries. Since its founding in October 1924 by Ralph C. Smedley in Santa Ana, California, the organization has helped millions of people lead and communicate “Douglas Toastmasters meet every Tuesday at 5:00 pm in Room 207 at the Students’ Union Building at the New Westminster Campus.” and a nine-year teaching career said “I have been a member of Toastmasters myself and I really believe in the program. It helped me launch my career as a coach and workshop presenter. | am always happy to support Toastmasters as there are few non-profit programs entirely committed to supporting anyone who wishes to develop themselves.” Regan’s own organization follows a mantra compatible with Toastmasters, stating “Dream Power Goal is a company devoted to supporting people in connecting to their authentic selves and believing in the limitlessness of their personal potential to create @ Monica Regan with poise and confidence. Today, organizations around the world recognize the value of incorporating Toastmasters training to help employees improve their communication and leadership skills. In British Columbia alone, there are over 250 Toastmasters Clubs and over 4,500 members. Douglas Toastmasters meet every Tuesday at 5:00 pm in Room 207 at the Students’ Union Building at the New Westminster Campus. For more information about the event and the club, please visit wwww.meetup.com/Douglas- Toastmasters or call Michelle Leong at 604-527-5038.