Yellowknife (Oct 02/06) - Two years ago, Sam Jacobson dreamed of being a pilot, but now his dreams stretch across continents and span cultures.

Jacobson's broadened horizons are thanks to his participation in the Northern Youth Abroad Program. The initiative provides NWT and Nunavut youth with the opportunity to gain work experience and live among far flung cultures.

The Tuktoyaktuk native's life altering journey began with a voyage that took him across the Atlantic Ocean, a first for the 19-year-old.

"I was excited. I couldn't believe I was going to Africa," he said.

The trip combined stops in both London, England, and Cape Town, South Africa, before arriving in Botswana's capital Habaroni.

From there it was a 700-kilometre drive to the small town of Ghanzi and then a quick jaunt to a game farm called Dqae Qare.

Jacobson said the tourist destination combines wildlife sightseeing tours and sport hunting."It's 15 kilometres in the bush."

While there, he worked on the farm, an arduous task considering no electricity meant he had to do all his chores with hand tools.

The typical work day lasted from 7:30 a.m. to sundown with a break from noon to 2 p.m. when the sun was at its hottest. Despite living in the Arctic all his life, Jacobson said he didn't find it difficult adjusting to the blazing African sun.

"There were no clouds, just blue sky and sunshine everyday," said Jacobson, who admitted he found that strange.

When he wasn't working, Jacobson engaged in a comprehensive cultural exchange that looked at everything from the region's social climate to economy.

He said the experience gave him a whole new appreciation for life back home.

Jacobson drew many parallels between the San, Botswana's indigenous population, and Northern First Nations.

Part of his trip took him to the small government-built village of D'kar.

Many of the San people were forced to settle in the village - called a tribal trust, similar to a reservation - to make way for resource development on their traditional lands.

Jacobson said families of five lived in small, seven-metre by seven-metre grass huts. They had no running water or electricity and cooked over an outdoor fire.

Poor transportation meant many of the San children do not have access to schooling. Those that do travel to school are forced to stay; Jacobson compared the situation to old Canadian residential schools.

"San people would get beaten up and teachers get mad at them because they can't understand them," said Jacobson. As a result he said many leave school and never go back. He said it was an eye opener that made him appreciate the educational opportunities he had back home.

"So many people take everything we have for granted. Lots of youth don't know how easy they got it," he said.

He still keeps in touch with many of the people from across Canada he met during the program. He said his world seems so much bigger.

"I want to get my education better and help my people, and be a leader and a role model for youth."