Experiences Participants

Read other participants' experiences. Find out more about their Expedition and in what way it has touched them.

 

Harry Bijl, Communication advisor and text writer at Harry Bijl Communicatie

Harry visited Debre Zeyt, Ethiopia for two weeks. Together with a local entrepreneur they worked on the positioning and marketing strategy of a resort. Click here to read his blog (in Dutch).

 

Paul de Korte, Director at Short-link

 

Statement: Learning to appreciate

"What is", not "What might be".

The most interesting aspect of working on a case in a developing country, is that you will never be able to imagine beforehand what you will run into. So don't bother to prepare on possible situations, would be my best advice. Most of the personal goals the Dutch

professionals will identify for themselves will be related to "how to deal with what you are about to encounter" and the best way to learn to do so is at site.

 

Of course it will help you to learn about the customs and habits of the other culture. Moreover it will give you more insight in how educated people - originating form other cultures - will experience our typical Dutch behaviour. But even with this knowledge you will still be confronted with unexpected situations at unexpected times for which you will have to improvise at site. Thìs will give you your learning experience and the beauty of it is that it eventually will always bring you to your original personal goal(s). In that way the experience is not different from any other learning course in your life: you will only learn by exercise. The success for yourself during this learning experience depends on your ability to recognise that the real values are nog very much different from what we ourselves consider to be essential: real interest in and respect for other people. It is inpsiring to see how quick African people sense that you "are trying to do the right thing",  something they are very much familiar with themselves...

Geert Boekelman, Director at ROC RijnIJssel

 

“This expedition has given me a life changing experience which is indelible and directly applicable in my daily work. I have brought knowledge to the Tsedale Nega College, but I have gained much more. That I have been able to experience this!”

 

Frank Meijer, Managing Director MTD Landschapsarchitecten

 

“I thought I would end up in an environment which was not startling and I particularly needed to bring knowhow instead of a place where I could gain knowledge. I have got insight in the contemporary, modern developments of this upcoming market. The myth of the old knowledge culture is completely affirmed. And I have gained experiences that I wouldn’t have been able to find anywhere else!”