While some students are so excited to study abroad and find the application process less hectic, this was not the case for Zabron Joshua Ludigija, a 2023 fall KOICA student from Tanzania. Below he shares his story of resilience, determination, lots of memories, and a summary of his stay at KDIS - a place that has been his home for the past 17 months.

Before applying to KDI School, I worked as a Planning Officer at Tabora Municipal Council under the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government of Tanzania. My roles involved planning for sustainable initiatives, overseeing project implementation, and monitoring their impact. Wanting to amplify my contributions and advance my skills, I decided to pursue a Master’s in Development Policy. KDIS was among the listed universities on the KOICA scholarship announcement. KDI School offered me the perfect platform to deepen my understanding of development, learn from experts, and collaborate with like-minded individuals. I was attracted to course programs, especially the Master’s in Development Policy with its courses, and after gathering more information from Instagram and YouTube, I knew it was the place I wanted to be.

The application process was not easy. It involved challenges that tested my determination. First, there was an accident in March 2023 that left me with a broken right hand, which slowed me down significantly. Additionally, my leave letter from the office was delayed, and I had to resubmit my academic certificates, a process that took over a month and caused considerable pressure. I almost gave up at this time, but I never let myself stop believing. I had a deep conviction and commitment to make a meaningful impact back in my country, and this was only possible for me at KDI School. I knew that every challenge I faced - whether it was the broken hand, delayed paperwork, or the pressure of resubmitting documents - was just a stepping stone toward my goal. I reminded myself that each obstacle was temporary, and I had come too far to give up.

I also leaned on the support of my family and friends, KOICA staff in Tanzania (Miss Jiwon Park and Miss Catherine) and mentors (Prof. Judith Kahamba) who encouraged me throughout the process. Additionally, the vision of becoming a more capable professional and contributing to projects that truly benefit my community kept me motivated. Knowing that I was doing this not just for myself but to help drive development in Tanzania gave me the strength to keep moving forward, no matter the setbacks.

Finally, after filling out my documents and receiving my leave letter, I embarked on my journey to South Korea. This was my first time leaving Tanzania. The journey to Korea was also memorable. My flight left Dar es Salaam on 20th August 2023, around 3:40 pm, and after a five-hour flight, I landed in Dubai for a six-hour layover. From there, I boarded a nine-and-a-half-hour flight to Korea. I enjoyed every moment of the journey, feeling both excited and nervous all at the same time, but mostly excited about the new experiences that awaited me. I arrived in Korea during fall and later experienced my first winter, including my first snowfall, a magical moment for me. Watching the snow falling from the sky, blanketing the ground in white, especially under the quiet of night, sent chills down my spine. It was something I had only watched in movies like ‘Home Alone’, which brought back memories from my childhood.

Studying at KDI School has been an incredible experience. The academic journey here has been transformative, and I have learned a great deal. Outside the classroom, I embraced Korean culture, wore a traditional hanbok, and explored historical sites, including Korean folk villages and the Sejong Administrative Government Office. I even tried my hand at archery! I attended diaspora meetings, where I had the honor of meeting our President-Mama H.E Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, and Tanzania's ambassador to Korea H.E. Togolan Mavura, and visited remarkable museums, like the Picasso Museum, Gangjin Minhwa Museum, and Uijae Art Museum. I also enjoyed events such as the Hamaek Beer Festival, KDIS Sports Day, and the Food Festival. I enjoyed playing soccer with KDIS United FC, creating more unforgettable memories. I visited Meta45 café- the tallest building in Sejong - and drank coffee on the 45th floor.

The KOICA activities and field trips were also the highlight of my 17 months at KDI School, especially the trip to Incheon Airport and workshops at KOICA Innoport, which added more value by connecting me with experts and peers while expanding my global perspective. These experiences have greatly improved my interaction skills, and I have made lasting friendships with fellow students from East Africa and Asia, with whom I shared several classes, collaborating on assignments and discussions, meanwhile spending time exploring the local culture and participating in various campus activities, deepening our bond through shared experiences and learning to appreciate diversity in all its forms.

As I prepare for my graduation this December, I am so excited to return to Tanzania with renewed energy and skills, and yet I am saddened that I am leaving this place that has been my home for the past 17 months. My goal is to leverage everything I have learned, particularly in project implementation and policy evaluation, to make a tangible impact back home in Tanzania. At KDIS, I developed strong analytical and policy evaluation skills through courses like Monitoring and Evaluation, Policy Process Analysis, Introduction to Stata, introduction to R, and Intermediate R which I will apply to enhance project implementation and monitoring in Tanzania. My time at KDI School has truly been a journey of growth, and I am grateful for each moment of these transformative 17 months. There could not have been a better place to spend the past 17 months, other than KDI School.