Instead of tanning on the beach, visiting the pool everyday, and having barbeques nearly every week Geometry and AP Statistics teacher Ms. Vanessa Kreshover will be travelling across the world.

This June, Kreshover will be visiting Zambia as part of a Virginia Tech-coordinated organization to work in the school system for a month. She will also contribute her time to a service time for the community. However, this isn’t Kreshover’s first time volunteering in Africa. “I visited Malawi 5 years ago, and it was a life-changing experience,” said Kreshover.

Both Malawi and Zambia are classified as developing countries according to a 2012 IMF report, with much of their populations experiencing poor health conditions, little electricity, and little running water.

According to Kreshover, the academic system is also substandard in Malawi. “At times there were up to 63 kids in a single class, and there was no set curriculum for teachers to follow,” said Kreshover. “I want to help in any way I can.”

Students of Ms. Kreshover aren’t surprised at their teachers reform efforts, however.

“Ms. Kreshover is a very cool and laid back teacher, but you can tell that she cares about the well being of her students. I am not surprised that she is into service projects like this because she seems like the kind of person who wants to help others,” said AP Statistics student and senior Charlee Vasiliadis.

Kreshover will also be visiting Botswana for a short part of her month-long trip.