Freedom to Choose

U.S. Embassy:

We met with representatives from the US Embassy, who taught us about their work there. Their commitment to eliminating practical misery and upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights caught my attention; these ideas were new to me and I was instantly intrigued. As they elaborated further, I found that their objectives resonated with my own values. What stood out to me was their approach of not aiming to eradicate ways of life simply because they differed from ours, but rather providing opportunities for change without coercion and presenting alternative paths without disparaging existing ones. 

This discussion reminded me of what Daniel had said about the Ministry of Hope’s mission and approach. He talked about his desire to provide education to children in villages so they could make informed decisions about their futures. 

Both the embassy and the Ministry sought to use education as a pathway to personal empowerment without imposing external ideals or disrupting local customs. It’s not about reshaping entire villages or forcing a new way of life; it’s about offering education and providing opportunities that allow people to live free from practical misery and empowered by choice. 

Reflecting on this shined a new light on our purpose in Malawi. I now realize the transformative power of knowledge and the importance of offering people tools to exercise their rights. While working with the Ministry of Hope, our mission in Malawi was to empower children to determine their own path, whatever it may be, and help build a future built on informed decisions rather than imposed solutions.