A Summary
A collection of all the content from each location I’ve visited along my travels. If you’re interested in seeing what schools and education looks like in these places around the world, read the articles, watch the videos and learn the stories of the people in each location for a glimpse inside their daily life.
Slovenia
In a Fairytale Animal Sanctuary (Video)
Along with their five children, the Lavrics operate In a Fairytale sanctuary on four hectares of land with the main goal of giving their animals a better life than they had before. However, they also began sharing their mission and love of nature with local Slovenian children through school visits and summer camps.
Lev is an 11-year old boy living at an animal sanctuary just south of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Aside from his regular daily routine of caring for the animals at the farm, he is homeschooled and keeps up his work after completing his morning chores. Follow along as we see what a day in Lev’s life looks like.
“I didn’t like the system at school. They tell you what you have to know and how you have to learn it. I would rather learn what I want at home and the way that works for me. In school you had a system you had to follow. That wasn’t for me.”
Romania
Finding Hope Ministries (Video)
The children at Finding Hope Ministries have heartbreaking stories. Many of them come from abuse. Some of them were abandoned by their parents. Other grew up never knowing their family.
“My husband would always remind me that we have to fight. It’s the life of these kids that’s at stake. We had to keep pushing. It was a hard process.”
“Getting a job meant that nobody else would have control over my life anymore.”
“I had a family up until I was ten years old. My mom didn’t like me and she beat me all the time, sometimes with a hot iron rod. She put me in a coma once. I ran away to the police many times. I would tell them that I don’t want to stay with that family and I want to go somewhere else. But they would always take me back.”
“When I was about 3 or 4, my mom took me and left me at the train station because she said that they would have more money if I wasn’t around. I was by myself for ten days at the station. I mostly just found water to drink. I found some food from the ground or trash can to eat. Nobody helped me until the police found me. They took me to the orphanage.”
The Romania series is taken from Finding Hope Ministries, a home for children who have no other family to care for them. The kids were all given the camera for 10 minutes and encouraged to take as many photos as they wanted. Then they got to select their favourite picture to post in the gallery.
Latvia
Kristiana Davida pamatskola (Video)
About two hours from the capital Riga, in rural Latvia, a small boarding school still operates as the first private school to open after Latvia’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
“Many of the kids who come here don’t really like the school because you actually have to work. But I think it makes you work for something. You clean your room because it’s your room. You pick potatoes because you’re going to eat them in the winter. It builds character.”
“I know that if I give my strength in life, even if I don’t see fruits of it right now, it will bring fruits later. I see this way is life-changing.”
Markuss is an 11-year-old student at Kristiana Davida pamatskola in Latvia. He lives at the school during the week in their boarding program. The school focuses on fostering relationships between its people and within the environment.
Oscars, a 10-year-old student at Kristiana Davida pamatskola in rural Latvia took control of the camera for one day. Here is a collection of his photos that he has chosen to show of his school and its surroundings. Many students, like Oscars, live at school during the week and travel home on most weekends.
Ukraine
The classroom is not what makes the School of Joy unique. What makes the school stand out is the focus on experiential learning and the opportunity for students to get out in nature, take regular field trips and make independent choices for activities that interest them.
Bulgaria
Created to reach those students and families that were not satisfied with the traditional, rigid education system in Bulgaria, Paths School is adapting to the changing global landscape.
“I like travelling because of the learn new things, see new things and get new things.”
“If you use your imagination when you’re little it’s a great thing. When you don’t use it you miss it. It’s probably like when you miss a person who’s not there anymore.”
“My family spends a lot of time outside in nature. I prefer to be outside because there are so many things to do. When I’m inside I feel trapped. Outside has the whole world.”
“Going in the mountains makes me the happiest. I like to jump on the big rocks. It’s fun for me. I like to walk in the pine trees. I like the views of the villages from the top of the mountains and the forests all around me.”
“I truly believe that children learn from the adults mainly through connection and what they see, not what they hear.”
“I think the main thing for a teacher is that they really should enjoy what they do. When I was a child, fun was forbidden. If you were having fun with what you were doing there was something wrong.”
Students at Paths School in Sofia, Bulgaria show us around their school in pictures.
Tanzania
Kyosei Training Centre (Video)
As it stands today, only about half of primary school students pass their exams for entrance into secondary schools. Tanzania does not provide a second chance on these tests. Kyosei gives these students an opportunity.
“Teaching here, I’ve seen that children are children and they all have that innocence and want to learn, no matter where they are from. They all like to laugh, they like to sing and dance and have fun.”
“Before I came here I never thought about being a teacher. It was never a dream for me. But now that I’ve done it, I’ve found that I really enjoy teaching. I feel really proud when I get them to understand something. So right now, it’s become an option for me.”
“I didn’t finish my secondary education. I got pregnant. The school kicked me out. In Tanzania, if you get pregnant you are not allowed to go to a government school anymore. I had to find a private training centre to continue my education.”
Malawi
Youth Coalition for the Consolidation of Democracy
"We realized that most of these problems are just symptoms of a greater issue.”
“The biggest challenge that I’ve seen with young people is the lack of motivation. Most students go to school because they are told that they should. What do they want to achieve by going to school? They can’t seem to connect with the benefits of education.”
“When I was about 6 or 7 years old we were living in Belgium. I wanted to go to school, so I did, but then realized I didn’t like it. I was at school for about one week and then I ran away.”
South Africa
Isithumba Community Development Movement (Video)
Thankfully, under the leadership of Amimi Mlaba, the Isithumba Community Development Movement gives the local youth an opportunity to participate in after-school activities, sports, games and social interaction with friends. If it weren’t for ICDM, there would not be much for the kids to do to keep them out of trouble and away from some negative influences.
Take a look around a traditional Zulu village in the beautiful Valley of a Thousand Hills in South Africa. All photos captured by Awande, a 9-year-old boy who shows us what life around his house and village looks like.
Travel Destinations
Thinking about doing some traveling? Take a look at some trips that might interest you from the places I have visited while working with the nearby school or program.
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Ljubljana has much to keep visitors busy from boat tours along the river to a walk up to the grand castle overlooking the city.
Mostnice gorge / Lake Bohinj, Slovenia
Most people have heard about Lake Bled. But the larger and lesser known Lake Bohinj offers plenty of things to do, including a day hike along the Mostnice Gorge to a waterfall.
Sibiu, Romania
A photo gallery from the historic part of the town of Sibiu in the region of Transylvania, Romania.
Kyiv, Ukraine
Check out some popular attractions around Kyiv and see why so many visitors fall in love with this city.
Tanzania
This safari tour through the national parks of Lake Manyara, Ngorogoro and Serengeti was an incredible experience to behold. Getting up and close to these animals in their natural habitat gives you a glimpse into life in the African plains.
Riga, Latvia
Explore the history of Riga’s old town and see how its control has changed hands many times over its 800 years, into today’s world famous destination for Art Nouveau architecture.
Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia is full of life. Countless parks and open squares draw locals outdoors to celebrate the beauty of their city with the many festivals, events and markets.