Photo of wild elephant babies in East Africa

 
Why Africa?

A recent neuroscience podcast asserts that elephants may be wired more maternally than us as human beings. Africa, being one continent home to elephants, has drawn me in since childhood for its majestic creatures and dynamic culture among the human population. 
When I was in second grade I remember sitting on the worn out rug of my classroom watching a presentation by someone who had visited Kenya and there began my love for the artistic expression of self through fashion as I saw the beauty in different jewelry and garments. But now as an adult vividly remembering this, I can recall more to these images as the smiles and stories behind each individual's eyes added to the slide show projected on the wall as I watched through my young child-like mind. 

As a child, my love for animals expanded when I learned about the diverse range of species in Africa compared to what we have here in the states. What was a new concept for me during this presentation was the thought of a child being “orphaned”.

“A child without parents” was unfathomable to me and planted a seed to help others less fortunate than me that day. Little did I know at that time I would actually have the opportunity to one day travel to this country and Kenya and its beauty and travesties myself. 

As a new-struggling-to-make-ends-meet-mother, a supervisor at the time, suggested I attend a presentation by a professor from the University of Denver. I attended. This time sitting in a chair - not on the floor - he spoke of orphaned elephants, and it brought me back to the seed that was planted in second grade - the seed that gave me passion and love to help people. 

This presenter's name is Philip Tedeschi. Years later after I returned to college and completed my Masters in Social Work I also became certified as an Animal Assisted Social Worker (under his teaching). After a few more years Phil called me one day and asked if I’d like to join him, his associate professor and a group of graduate students on a trip to Kenya for an immersion course on Human-Animal Welfare. 

I, of course, said YES! 

 
During this experience I remember walking through Kibara seeing human-beings from babies elderly people with no shoes, not knowing when the last time they ate a meal may have been and, yet, most had smiles ear-to-ear when we made eye contact. I will never forget this time as I reflected on how much more everyone I know, including myself, have monetarily and materialistically, so much privilege. However,  resilience and true happiness are deeply lacking in my community back home. The culture of my community is to buy a house and put a privacy fence while I listen to the wise women of Africa tell me their culture is to make as much food as they can because they do no know who (friend or not) may walk past and need a meal.
The African nature of peace and wellbeing that I experienced is encapsulated in the Swahili word, USTAWI. Our practice aims to encourage and promote wellness and helps clients to work through their personal challenges in achieving good mental health and welfare. We work to promote USTAWI among Human-Animals and Non-Human Animals.  

- Created in Collaboration with my friend, Catherine Chumbo