“No matter where you are from, your dreams are valid.” — Lupita Nyongo
This quote is one that sums up my life story and experiences. I chose to believe in the power of my dreams—and I see that as my personal super power.
I was born in a small rural town called Nongoma in South Africa. My family of 5 is and always has been my greatest support system. I was raised in a household with strong Christian values and principles of Ubuntu. Growing up, I always had a picture in my mind, of how I imagined my future to be—and big dreams that sometimes used to scare me. But now, I truly believe in the possibility of dreams coming true. And how everything works out accordingly to the plan of God.
A lot of me realizing this has been through my experience in the Cultural Care Au Pair exchange program. Being part of the program has been an amazing journey, filled with so much adventure, growth, and new possibilities. I learned about the program in 2013, but I was very skeptical at first—I didn’t know anyone who had been part of the program, so I dismissed the thought. But then, in my final year of Uni in 2016, I visited the website again, now more determined and eager than ever to know more information and possibly sign up for the program.
I was so excited when I got accepted into the program and finally matched with a family. When I left home to start my au pair journey, I don’t think I was fully aware of the big step that I was taking. Its only when I had to say goodbye to my family at the airport that I felt it sink in. I remember asking myself, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” But the overriding feeling was that of excitement. As I was boarding, I said a little prayer to God and so the journey began. I didn’t know what lay ahead, but it was comforting to know that God was with me. 
I don’t regret embarking on this journey at all. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. So many good things have come out of this experience—I got to meet amazing people, experience a new culture, be part of an American family and more. I made friendships with girls from all over the world, I traveled and got to go to places that I’ve always dreamt of going to. I also experienced personal growth.
Some of my best experiences in the program have centered around the relationship I’ve built with my host families, the amazing bond I now share with the kids and being a special part of their families. It also has been traveling with my friends! The best place I’ve traveled to, one that I’ve always dreamed of visiting, was the Bahamas. I went with 4 of my friends—2 from Italy, 1 from Hungary and 1 from Switzerland. I’ve made so many memories that I will forever hold dear to my heart. 
When I first arrived in America, I lived with the Brainard family in Boulder, Colorado. I took care of their 2 children—1 boy and 1 girl. I was their first au pair, and it was awesome being part of their family. I had so much fun in Colorado with my friends as well, that I got to meet through my LCC and in our au pair monthly meetings. After spending a year in Colorado, I extended for another 6 months—this time with the Campbell family in Oklahoma, where I’m currently taking care of their 3 kids.
When I got to Oklahoma, I applied for the UN Youth Assembly that was to take place in August in New York City. The Youth Assembly is a platform for young leaders across the globe who are making a positive impact in their communities and are addressing the Sustainable Development Goals. I decided to apply for this opportunity because I wanted to gain exposure, network, and learn of ways in which I could create opportunities for my community back home. I wanted to learn from other young people who were doing amazing things in their communities and how we can partner for positive change.
When I was accepted into the YA, it was so encouraging. I then learned of more opportunities that were available to Delegates, and so I decided to apply for the Impact Social Venture Challenge. After a process of interviews, submitting proposals, and intense competition, I was selected as one of the 10 finalists and had the privilege to do a presentation about my social venture, Craft Her Africa. Craft Her Africa is about economic empowerment for women and the youth in Nongoma, through skills development. Nongoma is one of the towns that has high unemployment rates and lack of skills among the young people in South Africa—but one that is also rich in culture and has great potential for being one of the main tourist attractions in my home country. 
At Craft Her Africa, we want to use the love for culture to create opportunities among the young people. We want to build a community center where they can learn life and business skills that will generate some income and help them create opportunities for themselves in the future—skills such as beading, weaving, sewing and knitting. Some of these skills are ones that have existed for generations, and so we collaborated with the elderly women in the community who have the skill to teach the youth. Our goal was to enable them to be innovative and come up with new and contemporary designs to meet the modern market while also preserving the African art and culture. It was an amazing opportunity for me to network with other young leaders, gain exposure, and meet potential funders for my project. My host family was very supportive during this process—my host mom is a business owner and she introduced me to other women in her circle who are doing amazing work and share the same passion for women leadership in communities. I’m truly blessed to have my host family—I have really felt like a part of the family and got to take part in so many of their family activities.
Just a few weeks ago, we were having a small conversation with my host mom in the kitchen and the kids were sitting by the table crafting—one of the boys started singing my favorite song in isiZulu, which is my language. I was so teary, and it was such a special moment. It’s so amazing how kids are so quick to learn.
The Cultural Care Au Pair exchange program has been an amazing experience. I take so many lessons from my time in America. I now truly believe in the possibility of dreams becoming a reality, and I will always remember to never let your I come from hold me back. The world is filled with endless opportunities and I just hope that when I go back home, I will be able to inspire young boys and girls growing up in my community to see themselves beyond their circumstances and believe that their dreams, too, are valid.