Where I Am Known as Mr. Majidi

About three months ago I returned home from Zambia, where I served as a volunteer computer instructor at the Banani International Secondary School. Days before leaving for home, the school’s staff threw an after-dinner going away party for me. Having spent only a short time at the school, I justifiably felt undeserving for this honor but was appreciative of their generosity. I also thanked them for allowing me to gain experience as a teacher and to take part in an admirable cause. The Banani School is unique among Zambian schools for not only providing young African women with a world-class education in the sciences and humanities but also empowering them with strong moral qualities through its character development program.

As Zambia engages more women in its social and economic affairs, many of these students will grow up to become important citizens and occupy positions of responsibility, if not leadership. Those who choose to go abroad to continue their education or to work will also find that, willing or not, others will perceive them as modern symbols of African womanhood through their actions, behavior, and capacity. For these students, a good character, solid education, and exposure to international customs are vital to their success and the wellbeing of their community. Although the curriculum is based on a Baha’i model of education, the vast majority of the students are Christian (as is the case for most Zambians). Nonetheless, many of the social and moral principles are shared, with the equality of men and women a chief priority.

As the evening moved to hot tea and chocolate cake, I lamented about how six months was too short a time to support this effort in any substantial way or, if anything else, at least to enjoy the wonderful setting and local hospitality. That evening, the school principal expressed an observation shared by others at the school – that I had matured during the course of my service. My original intention in going to Africa to volunteer as a computer studies instructor was to offer a worthwhile service simply for the sake of service. I was not on a mission of self-discovery or adventure, however worthy reasons they are for serving abroad, nor did I anticipate a significant change in my thinking. Nonetheless, willingly or not, the experience of serving at the Banani School did inspire self-discovery, as it changed my attitude towards service and prompted me to reconsider the manner in which I approach my studies and career.

The Banani International Secondary School is situated in the heart of Zambia’s Central Province and is about one-and-a-half hour’s drive north of the nation’s capital and largest city, Lusaka. It is a private boarding school of about one hundred and forty young women, most of whom are natives of Zambia. Despite its relatively remote location, the small community encompassing the Banani School is a modern and dynamic environment with people from all corners of the earth engaged in various forms of service. For a native Delawarean, who is accustomed to seeing people of diverse races and nationalities daily, it was comforting to witness staff from various backgrounds and experiences consort in a spirit of unity and fellowship.

Apart from the work of the boarding school, community residents are involved in rural health and education projects, moral and spiritual development programs, agriculture, and other activities that are designed to serve the people of the region. These initiatives are unique in the country and the institution invites instructors, scholars, and trainees from throughout Zambia and the rest of Africa to take part.

Although volunteers make up only a small portion of the staff at the Banani School and its neighboring institutions, many more find that they too have to give more of themselves than they get back in order to serve there. This is especially true for those coming from the West, as they have difficulty supporting the same lifestyle that they and their families experience back home because of higher expenses, lower salaries, and reduced accessibility to retail and commercial services.

For many, sacrifice in the path of service engenders a sense of self-worth and accomplishment. Through their unity and tireless devotion to service, however, the staff at the Banani School demonstrated that their efforts are driven by much more than a quest for self-fulfillment. For them, service is also an expression of their love for humanity and its Creator. This attitude towards service is prevalent at the Banani School and is part of what allows it to succeed in fostering unity and student development. My hope is to approach my graduate studies and future career with this same attitude, regardless of where I choose to work or the manner in which I serve.

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