We are grateful to past Adventure Scholarship recipient Lia Young for sharing the following update on her adventures since receiving her award! She received her award in April 2026.

Hello Peter & folks at Flyin Ryan:

I am sending so much gratitude your way!

Through the support of the Flyin Ryan Scholarship, I was able to travel to spend two weeks volunteering with the Fort Lewis College Village Aid Project outside of Mazabuka, Zambia in the Siyowi area villages of Mpasu and Nachili. Alongside other volunteers and students, I worked to help build a water system that is now working to provide water to over 100 homes, spanning over 20 kilometers of distribution pipeline and including solar water tower systems.

Each day in the communities was spent hauling materials and tools, communicating and working alongside locals to teach how to build their system, to empower them with knowledge about their own water system and increase sustainability of the system. I also gave 25 soccer balls and pumps to the community from a fundraiser I ran. The remaining funds from this fundraiser (almost $500) will be donated to World Bicycle Relief. I was able to make meaningful connections and relationships with the villagers throughout the two weeks I spent there, across our language barrier. The people of Nachili and Mpasu are so happy, hardworking, strong and skilled. Their children are playful and curious! I am so grateful I got the opportunity to interact with this community. Coming home, I’m taking with me valuable memories and lessons.

After my time in the villages, I spent a few days exploring Livingston, Zambia, went to Victoria Falls and experienced a safari in Chobe, Botswana which is just across a neighboring border. I also traveled to Tanzania and summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, as I landed an affordable opportunity working alongside a company.

\I feel oh so lucky for the experiences that I have had in Africa in May. Challenging myself in various ways, exploring new places and cultures, seeing the sun rise of Uhuru Peak on top of Kilimanjaro, and most of all, engaging with the beautiful, strong and happy people of Siyowi is something that will never leave me.I am so grateful to the Flyin Ryan foundation for supporting me, giving me the opportunity to engage in something so meaningful and do good in the world. I have included some of my photos from the trip!

With Gratitude, Lia Young