PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A gaggle of teenage boys from Philadelphia are making ready to embark on the journey of a lifetime to West Africa, Their mentors gave them a style of the flavors they will be savoring on the Ivory Coast.
Tamika Boyd ran by way of the guidelines for her son, Ibrahim Smith, forward of his large journey to Côte d’Ivoire, Africa. He is one in all 9 boys touring with the KB Basis mentorship program, and at 13, it will be his first time on a aircraft.
“He is going to have the ability to say at 13: ‘I went to Africa, I have been to the Ivory Coast, I have been someplace. I’ve performed one thing. I’ve a passport. I’ve a stamp on my passport,'” Boyd stated. “As a result of I’ve a passport and no stamp, so I am excited for him.”
The boys have about two months till they take off the world over.
Mother and father tackled visa purposes on Tuesday whereas their sons prepped their style buds with conventional West African dishes like jollof rice, plantains, braised rooster and fried fish.
“You’ll be pushed exterior of your consolation zone. So we could have meals the place you’ll be consuming meals that you just’re not conversant in,” mentor Nicholas Elmi stated.
Judging by the best way they devoured their plates, these Philly boys had no downside increasing the palate and exploring worldwide flavors.
“It form of tastes like my mother’s meals, so I can take pleasure in it,” one pupil stated.
Though there was no dessert on the menu, the sweetest a part of the meal for Justin Fishman, the vp of the KB Basis, was witnessing his mentees really participating in dinner dialog, with not a smartphone in sight.
“They’re having real conversations. They’re smiling. They’re completely happy,” Fishman stated. “It is a uncommon occasion for us to see 13-, 14-year-old boys spending time collectively like this, listening to one another.”
