In early December 2019, myAgro embarked on a journey into the past, to reflect on the present. This journey was initiated by one of our valued donors to provide a cultural exchange between our African teams and their American colleagues. Eleven outstanding team members from Senegal, Mali, and Tanzania were given the opportunity to fly to Montgomery, Alabama to participate in this exchange.
The five day cultural exchange was filled with visits to museums and memorials, along with ample time for reflection. The team learned about historical influencers such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., along with initiatives like the Freedom Riders and the Equal Justice Initiative. Throughout the trip, the group reflected on how their observations and experiences in Alabama connect with myAgro’s mission and values to improve their ability to bring social and economic justice to smallholder farmers in Africa. Field Coordinator in Tanzania, Emmani Mkumbo said, “In all the places we visited, we found people doing something for other people–people wanting to make an impact to their society, just like the way that myAgro is working to change the lives of many through agriculture.”
Learning about African American history with team members of both African and American backgrounds brought about insightful and valuable discussions. “It was certainly a heavily emotional, eye-opening experience. Although it was tough to view our American past in all its forms, it felt necessary for me as a person to know these things and accept them, so I can continue to fight for civil rights in any form that I can,” said Katie Silva, Human Resources Specialist and coordinator of the exchange. Nora Kayirangwa, Office Manager in Senegal, shared, “I was excited to learn about the history of Africans in the United States, to better understand what they have been through to get to where they are now. While in Alabama, I felt something change deep inside me, I felt immensely proud to be an African woman.”
Going beyond historical visits and reflecting on racism and social justice, the cultural exchange was also an opportunity for both personal and professional growth. “Learning about Rosa Parks and her fight for freedom and justice, made me realize that I am a leader in my community, I as much as anyone else have the power to ‘just do it’,” said Nora Kayirangwa.
The team learned a variety of valuable lessons. Some appreciated particular moments during the exchange, others took away much broader enlightenments. “An impactful part of my trip was meeting so many beautiful individuals of such depth. Because we experienced some very emotional visits, I felt that I became close to the group; even with those that didn’t speak English, I was still able to connect with them and continue to afterwards. It feels like a forever friendship no matter how far away we live,” said Katie Silva.
The impact of this cultural exchange and tour of Montgomery, Alabama runs deep. Each myAgro team member who attended came back with unique and different passions, goals, and ideas. All of these individual lessons and realizations have one thing in common–a desire to continue working for social justice and food security in the communities we serve.
