Clarity from Charity: an Interview

We've been around the world in many ways, but in our fourth interview, we follow honorary wanderer and amazing human being Jean-Paul. A solid supporter of the blog from its very beginning, JP (as he is better known to his friends) has made it his mission to live life to the fullest, always. Early on in his life, he realized he wanted to do great things and so created himself a 30 before 30 list (a bucket list of 30 items to complete before the age of 30) to motivate himself to get a jump on the opportunities that were in front of him. 

JP has been a great friend, a supportive colleague, and has become almost like another brother to me (Kyla). He's been a part of my life for a while and has served as a great source of inspiration, but he was part of my mother's life as a friend and colleague first. In this interview, we follow JP as he embarks on another one of his beautiful trips but this time, with the goal of using travel to change more lives than just his. Read about JP's trip with Free the Children as he heads over to Kenya. 

Q: You’ve had the opportunity to visit different countries for a number of different reasons: work, pleasure, and even charity. When you embarked on your trip to Kenya with Me to We, how did it differ from a trip you had taken as a travel organizer or even one you took for pleasure?
A: I’ve been blessed with amazing adventures throughout 30 countries so far. I’ve had the opportunity to bring students on international trips during the march break, I’ve explored amazing cities and created countless memories on adventure trips with friends, and even embarked on soul searching journeys on my own (travelling solo can be quite beneficial and I highly recommend it), but travelling to Kenya was by far a unique and life-changing experience!  From getting cabin fever during the extremely long flights to sleeping in netted beds in order to prevent malaria (which is quite tricky to get out of in the middle of the night, trying to find your way out of the dark…especially when wild monkeys are yelling in the background), I’ve experienced many different scenarios that I normally didn’t have to deal with on other trips. But in the end, those are but little details. This trip was different because it was not about me. Of course, I got a lot out of it, but I was there mainly and primarily to give my time and energy to help build a dormitory for students at an all-girls high school. Our group was tasked with finishing the building’s foundation and to continue layering bricks. For those who know me, this is not my everyday look nor task. It was hard work! I usually go on a trip to relax, to discover and to refresh. But after spending time with the kids and their families, everyone had that extra motivation to give it their all. From digging, chiselling bricks and layering cement with the locals, we were there to help build a strong foundation for generations to come!

Q: What are the steps you had to take in order to prepare not only physically for this trip, but emotionally as well?
A: It was a year (and then some) of financial sacrifices. Flying across the world and embarking on such a journey doesn’t come cheap. But it (the trip) being an item on my 30B430 list (a bucket list of 30 goals I wanted to accomplish before the age of 30), I was dedicated to realizing this goal, no matter what sacrifices were needed. Physically, we had to plan in advance in order to guarantee all of our shots, updating those we previously had and getting new ones, especially for malaria.  Before my departure, it was important for me to research not only the area but also the company, making sure that their values aligned with my vision. And it did! I was very active with Free The Children; from raising awareness to global issues to attending We Day events with students and raising money for various charities (both locally and internationally). Going on this adventure was the next logical step. One of the more difficult challenges for me was to pack very little as there was a weight limit. How do I pack for a few weeks and what essentials do I bring in a backpack weighing no more than 20 pounds? Yes, the size of a carry-on… for two weeks! On an emotional basis, nothing could have prepared me for this trip. Yes, I’ve heard stories, I’ve seen pictures and attended conferences from speakers who did the journey, but until you truly live it for yourself, one cannot really understand all that entails!

Q: What was a difficult moment during your trip?
A: As mentioned, it was physically demanding on the build site. It was hard, but not difficult. What was truly difficult was understanding the realities. We seem to have everything back home, yet people seem to be unhappy. Here, in the Maasai Mara, people have limited resources, and yet, they were some of the happiest people I’ve ever met. It was difficult to comprehend! I’ve visited schools where they were using dried cow dung plastered sticks as a blackboard, and walked hours in order to get water for the community…basic things we take for granted back home! I understood why we were there, but it was difficult to take it all in. The water walk had to be the most humbling experience! Mamma Wilita and Mamma Nancy, two amazing women from the Kipsili tribe, greeted us one morning with big hugs and genuine smiles. Even though there was a language barrier, their warm embrace and positive energy made us feel like family. After they shared with us stories of their culture and traditions (thanks to a translator who spoke Swahili), we set out on our community water walk. We walked about an hour in order to reach our final destination where the mammas gathered dirty water with plastic containers for their families. Seeing the muddy water was really a shock to me. I promoted it and talked about it in our schools, but living it and seeing it with my own eyes was something else! We were asked to stay behind so that we don’t get sick from the water, yet here they were knees deep in the muck. And then, a few feet from where the mammas were gathering water, cows showed up out of nowhere. For many developing communities around the world, the same water source that’s used to collect household water for drinking and cooking is also used as a dumping ground for human and animal waste. I was left speechless. Once filled, we had to carry these 50 pounds containers back to the community; 50 pounds, strapped to our head and supported on our back and shoulders. Even though it was hard, I was reminded of why we were doing this. We did this in order to relieve children, especially young girls, of their daily treks to collect water, freeing them so that they can attend school. It was a humbling experience, especially knowing that when we are thirsty back home, we simply walk to our kitchen sink, or run a nice shower so that we can bathe. Young and old, no one will ever look at clean water the same way! And to think that, to this day, more than 800 million people around the world do not have access to safe drinking water. Clean water shouldn’t be a luxury… it should be a basic human right!

Q: What was a memorable moment?
A: This is a difficult question to answer as I experienced many unforgettable moments; moments that truly left me speechless and some, quite emotional! From flying over Mount Kilimanjaro in a tiny bush plane, to witnessing a lion eat a dead wildebeest during a safari trip (and being so close that we could hear the snapping of the bones and ripping of the flesh – oh, the circle of life!), or even walking and talking with some Maasai warriors during an early sunrise walk, to sitting with members of their community around a nice fire talking about their culture and traditions (which was very educational and eye-opening); there are too many to name. But when I think of the trip, I ultimately remember the children!!!  We had the opportunity, on a few occasions, to meet and interact with some of the youth that attended the schools built by Me To We. I will never forget visiting one of the elementary schools, where the kids all welcomed us with joyful songs and dance. I couldn’t stop smiling as I had never felt so much love in my entire life! Here I was, expecting to help and bring some love to sad orphans (you know, the ones we see on television with the melancholic Sarah McClaughlin song in the background). This was the absolute opposite! These were by far the biggest smiles I’ve ever seen and some of the happiest people I’ve ever encountered. The community mobilizer had a chance to welcome us to the school where the children prepared a special number for us. It was nothing but pure and genuine love and sincere appreciation. Afterwards, we had a chance to interact with the kids. Definitely the highlight of my trip! We also had the opportunity to sit down with inspirational young women from the Kisaruni Secondary School, where we shared a cup of chai tea and really got to know them and learn about their dreams of becoming chemical engineers, teachers, lawyers and journalists. The kids all mentioned how it was a blessing to be in school and to have the opportunity to learn and to grow and most importantly, the honour to dream and to have hope in a better tomorrow! It was truly inspiring!

Q: Would you recommend to do this type of trip individually, but with an organization, or was the experience more rewarding having someone else in your company?
A: I truly believe in the benefits of traveling solo. I did some soul-searching while traveling across Canada by train, I celebrated New Year’s in San Francisco, and I danced with the beautiful Northern Lights in Iceland… all by myself. These are moments that I truly cherish.  Travelling solo definitely has its benefits and its merit, but I absolutely loved sharing this experience in Kenya with a dear friend. From driving back to the campsite, filled with so much positive energy after meeting the youth, to enjoying a beautiful Kenyan sunset while sharing a meal and deep discussions after spending the afternoon at the build-site, I was blessed to have experienced this journey with my good friend Donna. We, of course, met some incredible people on our journey (some have become life-long friends) but I couldn’t have imagined doing this with anyone else! I often get flashbacks from this incredible trip, and every time, I feel Donna’s presence. I’m glad I got to experience this trip through her eyes as well. Pouring out our hearts (and tears) in our tent, holding each other accountable, and re-living the journey over and over after our trip, the universe has blessed me with an incredible friend! And Kenya has bonded us even closer!

Q: Is there any advice you think would be helpful for those who are considering embarking on a charitable trip?
A: Mahatma Gandhi has once said ‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”, and I couldn’t agree more! I highly encourage everyone to embark on a charitable trip at least once in their lives. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture across the world; it can be as simple as a weekend getaway in your own backyard, helping the ones in need. If I had to share any advice, I would simply say to follow your heart, and be the change…by rolling your sleeves and taking action. Do your research and find a model that applies to you and your values. And be open to other cultures, other lifestyles and other traditions. “Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Q: What is a song that makes you nostalgic about travel?
A: Every time I hear the Kenyan Boys Choir singing Jambo Bwana (which is Swahili for “Hello Sir”), I get nostalgic. I hear Africa in their voices, Kenya in their harmonies and Nairobi in their melodies. Upon arrival in the dining tent for dinner one night, after a long day at the build site, the Kenyan Boys Choir (who sang for the Queen, at Obama’s inauguration and various We Day events across the country) appeared from the bushes and sang a few songs for us under the Kenyan stars. Tyler Shaw, who was traveling with us, joined them for a private impromptu concert later that evening. It was pure magic! Every time that I hear their music, I am brought back to the Maasai Mara, beading with the mamas under the hot sun. I am brought back to the all-men’s group education and outreach program where I sat with a young man my age named Jeffrey, sanding wooden throwing clubs with freshly broken glass. I am brought back to the place where majestic giraffes and beautiful elephants walk freely. I am brought back to a place where I feel love, happiness and memories that I will cherish for a lifetime!

A big thanks to JP for his time, advice and support. It was a pleasure to feature him on the blog and we certainly hope it won't be the last, considering all of the travel wisdom he holds!!

Sudbury born and raised, Jean-Paul Courtemanche is passionate about life, obsessed with travel and liberated by the arts! Having graduated from a theatre program which focused entirely on new creations, he has worked in the field of education, tourism and the arts for over a decade. Ambitious globe-trotter and self-proclaimed foodie, he created a list of 30 challenges he wanted to achieve before the age of 30. He successfully accomplished all of his goals, including meeting and dancing with Ellen DeGeneres. Newly employed at the National Arts Centre, situated in Canada’s capital, his next goal is to travel to 50 countries before the age of 50.