Nisha Thampi was a student at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. In 2001, with the help of a $1500 scholarship, Nisha traveled to Zambia where she worked with children orphaned because of the death of their parents from HIV/AIDS. Nisha will pursue a graduate degree in public health from the University of Michigan.

Here are Nisha’s travel safety tips:

Travel with members of your host family whenever possible. Plan bus trips so that you depart for and arrive at your destination during the daylight hours.