Molly Goren

August 25, 2010

Ramogi Village, Uganda

The spring before my senior year in college, I was accepted to a year-long program through American Jewish World Service, a national organization dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance to disadvantaged communities and people worldwide. The program consisted of a three-month stint in Ramogi Village, Uganda, working with an NGO supporting orphans and their caregivers impacted by HIV/AIDS. The remaining 9 months of the program were spent attending retreats in New York and Washington D.C. to further explore the global development issues we were exposed to firsthand in Uganda, and lobbying congress in support of foreign aid.

Shortly after my return home, I organized a photography exhibit at Geraldine’s Counter to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in the developing world.

August 30, 2008

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Family Trip to South Africa

Who knew a middle school auction could lead to a family trek through South Africa? Yep, that’s right, my parents won a safari for two at a Jewish Day School auction, and decided to seize the opportunity and make a family trip out of it.

Surely one of the most memorable travel experiences I’ve had, South Africa is both fascinating and truly breathtaking. We spent about a week exploring the city of Cape Town and steeping ourselves in its rich history, hiking Table Mountain, visiting the Stellenbosch wineries, swimming in the Indian Ocean, and spending time on Robben Island, the place where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years.

After Cape Town, we flew to Durban and embarked on two incredible safaris, one in Zululand and one just outside Kruger National Park. We got up each morning at 5am, hopped into our jeep, and barreled through the bush for hours searching for wildlife. We would do the same thing each evening — since sunrise and sunset are the prime animal viewing hours. We saw everything from elephants, warthogs, and zebras, to leopards, monkeys, and lions. Not to mention the massive 700 year old tree, below, that absolutely took my breath away. It was a trip of a lifetime.