RANKIN INLET - Doreen Okalik is looking forward to her trip to Africa this week as long as she doesn't run into any hippos.

"I think I'll be scared of hippos for sure. I've been talking about them since I found out so I'm going to try my best not to be around watery areas," the 20-year-old woman said.

Doreen Okalik of Rankin Inlet is off to Africa on a youth exchange program. - Kassina Ryder/NNSL photo

Okalik is part of the Northern Youth Abroad Program and will be travelling to Botswana on July 8 to do volunteer work and participate in a cultural exchange.

On July 1, the group will land in Ottawa and participate in a week-long orientation at an outdoor education centre outside of Ottawa, according to program director Rebecca Bisson. The group will then travel to Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, for a three-day in-country orientation before the group will split into two teams and head out to their placements.

Okalik's group, which will consist of six youth and two group leaders, will be placed in a village outside the capital.

Okalik participated in the Canadian component of the program in 2007. Bisson said once a participant has successfully completed the Canadian component, he or she is eligible for the international trip as long as they are not older than 22. She said unlike the Canadian program application, which is reviewed by volunteer teams across Nunavut, the applications for the international program are reviewed by an international board member, a program alumni and a staff member.

"Once the participants go through that then we pick them," Bisson said. "We want Canadian participants to do the international trip at some point."

The participants return complete assignments during the trip and for about eight weeks after their return, such as journalling, keeping track of their work hours and interviewing community members.

Okalik said other than being fearful of hippos and bugs; she is going to enjoy her trip.

"I'm looking forward to making new friends, seeing the co-ordinators again, and travelling and learning a new language and a whole new culture," she said.

Successful participants will graduate from the program and can then be involved in NYA by becoming board members and participating in other volunteering opportunities. The group will spend seven weeks in Africa before returning home on Aug. 24.