Ghana 2010 | Climbing Kilimanjaro, Tanzania 2013
Perrin Clore Duncan is a Mission-Driven and Globally Conscious Young Professional | Graduated in 2017 with a double-major in Economics and Studio Art and minor in Spanish from DePauw University | Received her Master of Fine Arts from The Burren College of Art in Ireland in 2019 | Worked for an Experiential Education Organization in Bangkok | Completed a thru-hike of the 500-mile Colorado Trail in 2020 | Wilderness First Responder Certified
All photos have been provided by Perrin. Read her story below!
My first experience with Rustic Pathways was on a trip to Ghana when I was 15 years old.
I still vividly remember the smell of the spices from the giant market in Accra, the peaceful journey on canoes to the stilted village, the bright smiles and kindness of the children we had the opportunity to play with at the orphanage, and the sunset walk we took with the son of a village chief.
My trip to Ghana was my first exposure to the continent of Africa. It was also the first time, in my memory, that I began to consider my role as a global citizen.
Just before I entered my first year of University, I took another Rustic trip. This time, on a journey to summit Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
Growing up hiking in the mountains of Colorado, I’d always want to try a major summit. Being on top of Kili was better than I could have imagined.
More importantly, the friends I made through the journey had a significant impact on my life.
These experiences led me to question: How am I doing my best on a daily basis to help my peers? My community? Our world? Where are there opportunities for me to implement change in my life and lifestyle that could have a positive snowball effect down the line? How can I do my best to reduce the size of my negative footprint, inherently being created by merely existing?
These questions are important, but aren’t all easily answerable.
I choose to surround myself with people who support growth, learning, and all things good. People who encourage me to further develop my consciousness and responsibility of being a positive change-maker.
I am grateful for my experiences through Rustic Pathways. They opened my heart and mind to new possibilities. If every young person had the opportunity to leave home and see the world through a new perspective, I have no doubt our future world would be a better place.
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