Discover Your World Travel Experience: Synthia Achoh
I am Synthia Achoh, from Cameroon, and currently an international student in Japan. I have always been passionate about traveling, and before receiving the Travel Unity Discover Your World Scholarship, I have had the opportunity to visit Uganda and Japan. What made this travel experience unique was that, for the first time, I was fully responsible for planning my trip—choosing the places to visit, making bus bookings, handling hotel reservations, and navigating local transportation within the towns I explored. To me, travel is the greatest teacher. It has continually challenged my perspectives, deepened my cultural understanding, and fueled my curiosity. More than just a hobby, traveling is shaping the person I am becoming. I first heard about the Travel Unity Discover Your World Scholarship through a WhatsApp group. With the scholarship, I traveled from Yaoundé, Cameroon, to Limbe from February 23rd to February 28th, 2025. While in Limbe, I visited the Limbe Botanic Garden, the Limbe Wildlife Center, Limbe Downtown Beach, the Alfred Saker Monument, and, as the final highlight of my trip, I hiked to Lake Nachtigal in Debundscha. Walking through Limbe’s historic sites and landscapes felt like stepping into the pages of my primary school lessons—except this time, I was experiencing them firsthand rather than just imagining them. This trip deepened my appreciation for conservation and history, as I met passionate conservationists, explored iconic landmarks, and embraced the beauty of nature. This journey rekindled my curiosity about the world, inspiring me to explore more of Cameroon and beyond. As I packed for my return to Japan, I felt an even stronger desire to travel, meet diverse people, and immerse myself in new experiences. While my career aspirations in international relations remain unchanged, this experience reinforced my passion for cross-cultural interactions and global connections. It reminded me that understanding history, conservation, and different communities plays a crucial role in shaping meaningful international engagements.
DEI MYTHS
Myth #1: There are way too many ways to go wrong, so it is better to just avoid DEI. Fact: Look at your employee base. Is everyone from a fairly similar background? Look at your marketing collateral. Do most of the people look like one another? This won’t change on its own. While taking action means potentially making a mistake, sincere recognition and an apology (when necessary) can go a long way. Myth #2: ‘Diversity’ is just another word for “not white”. Fact: Race/ethnicity are one part of diversity; diversity is about all the different aspects of someone that make them an individual with a specific perspective. Travel Unity’s working definition of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) considers Myth #3: As long as you’re not discriminating against people, it is up to them to feel welcome. Most organizations realize that marketing is a necessary part of operations. You can’t just sit back and wait for people to come to you. It is the same for DEI. There needs to be a thoughtful, deliberate approach to making communities feel welcome. Myth #4: Working on attracting certain groups only helps by attracting those groups. Fact: Thoughtful approaches to inclusion go beyond the specific groups you are trying to appeal to, as those who value inclusion will notice it, no matter how they identify. Myth #5: With the right consulting/training/procedures, we will be set for DEI going forward. Fact: DEI is a journey. There will always be more that you can do. While this might be daunting, it means that you can pace and plan your efforts accordingly.