Eight young women from the KB Foundation are back home in West Philadelphia after the trip of a lifetime to Cape Town, South Africa.
The girls said they are excited to share the unforgettable moments of their trip, from up-close views of wildlife on safari to visiting historical sites that have deepened their understanding of the world.
“Oh my God, there's no way I'm in Africa,” said one student during the trip.
“It was definitely an experience,” said another.
The group got a chance to see and walk around the lions in the jungle Robben Island, where former South African President Nelson Mandela was imprisoned After fighting against apartheid, he spent 18 out of 27 years behind bars.
KB Foundation founder Kirk Berry says the visit was more important than history. It was about helping girls imagine what was possible for their future.
This also included a visit to PricewaterhouseCoopers, where the students were exposed to the world of global business.
“We're hoping this can be someone's story,” Berry said. “We want this to be something positive that shapes their lives.”
The girls say it did exactly that.
Along the way, he also gave back by visiting communities different from his own and donating shoes and food.
One student said, “It made us all feel more grateful for what we have.”
Another shared, “We gave them shoes, we even gave them food.”
A third student said, “I saw everyone's faces and how happy they were to get food. It made me really happy.”
And yes, travel is included Tasting some local cuisine.
“We had caterpillars, termites,” one student said, laughing. They also tested insects with peanut butter.
The girls said the experience was eye-opening and changed their outlook on life.
The KB Foundation is planning to take a group of boys to South Africa next year, with fundraising expected to begin soon.