By Ibrahim Kombo, YES 2009-2010, Kenya, hosted by PAX in Nashua, NH

I was hosted in Nashua, NH by David Wilson and Tabatha Chapman. These two beautiful souls are responsible for making me the proactive person I am today. I also can't thank YES enough for the life changing experience I had during my exchange year in the US.

I live in Malindi, a small town in Kenya that is by the beach. The weather in Malindi is almost the same all year (hot). When I was accepted to be a YES participant in 2009, I was very excited. I would spend hours Googling Nashua, NH. In August 2009, my fellow Kenyan YES participants and I left for the States. It was the first flight I ever took. Ever since I was a kid, I had always wanted to be a pilot, so as I sat there, looking out the window, I imagined how great the view from the cockpit must be. I promised myself that one day I would be in a cockpit and somebody in the back would imagine the amazing view that I had as a pilot. It may sound funny, but that’s exactly what I thought, and now I am a student pilot in Flight Training Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

During my exchange year, my host mum realized that one of my biggest weaknesses was not taking enough initiative. I would stay quiet even when I needed something, and I wouldn't initiate doing house chores until I was asked. When she realized this, she printed a small paper with the word “initiative” on it, and stuck it on my bathroom mirror. I thought to myself, "What is this now? Apart from telling me about this every single day, now she is sticking stickers on my bathroom mirror? Americans!" This is something that would never happen in my home country. I thought, "This sticker can’t change who I am." I was wrong! That small sticker changed me. After a few weeks of staring at the sticker every morning, I took it as a challenge. I started taking initiative. I joined the school soccer team, and I started doing house chores without being told. Since then, taking initiative has stopped being my weakness.

Upon coming back to Kenya I have taken initiative in organizing and participating in many projects to help my community. While exchange students in the U.S., YES participants are required to do community service. I did most of my community service in a soup kitchen in my host town. A soup kitchen, meal centre, or food kitchen is a place where food is offered to the hungry for free. Before I left for my exchange year, I didn't know the importance or essence of giving back. I thought the only way to give back was giving people money and in that case only the rich people are to give back. This changed after I finished my exchange year. I realized how important it is for everyone to give back. Since then I have tried to do my part by organizing projects that help my community in Kenya. 

Recently, YES alumni in Kenya visited the oncology ward of a public hospital in Nairobi. I took initiative and collected contributions for the patients from alumni, friends and family. From the contributions, we bought fruit and toys, which we then distributed to kids in the oncology ward. We also spent the day playing and talking to them. By the end of the day, we felt good for doing something to help others.

I can say very proudly that I have a family in the U.S. because of my host family. They have told me I am a part of their family and offered their home to me whenever I want to visit. My exchange year in the States is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Thank you so much, Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study program, for the amazing and life changing experience.