Sarah Oxford is a self-proclaimed modern nomad. For the moment she lives in San Francisco, CA, and is a founding board member of Breaking Ground, a non-profit that enables Cameroonian communities to complete locally-initiated, sustainable projects by providing strategic resources and funding. Sarah is also a Rotary Peace Fellow and in Fall 2011, she will begin a Masters in African Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Bradford, England.

Why are you a global nomad?

I’m addicted to the mental and physical challenges of living in the developing world; learning new languages and cultures. I find the process of adapting to a new culture exhilarating. At this point, I’m more comfortable in foreign environments then in my own native country. There is a freedom in being different and accepted because you are exactly who you are.

What made you start this venture? Why are you doing this?

I studied in Cameroon in 2004 and witnessed destructive development projects that were hurting communities, not helping. The commonality among these failed projects was that local input was not heard. In 2006 Breaking Ground’s co-founder was teaching English in Cameroon. Over a candid conversation with fellow teachers, she realized that the community was mobilized and ready for change, but lacked the resources to make that change possible. The teachers’ wanted to pave the classroom dirt floors because chiggers were biting the student’s feet. She e-mailed friends and family asking for support. Months later thousands of dollars had been  donated and community projects were organically coming to fruition. From there, Breaking Ground grew into a 501 (c) (3) registered non-profit. Our core value is simply to listen. I support Breaking Ground  because I know that I am making positive change in deserving areas of the world. I am capable to do this because I have access to resources and contacts that Cameroonians don’t because of where I was born and educated.

What do you hope to achieve?

I want to empower people to improve their lives through their methods.  When this occurs, a synergy is created; confidence is boosted, stereotypes are lifted and a platform for a better future is created.


How long have you been working on this?

Breaking Ground just turned five!

What is the most interesting discovery you have made since starting this project?

That the word family has no boundaries. I am a sister, aunt, mother and child to hundreds of people and I never take their love for granted even when I’m thousands of miles away.

Where do you see this project in 10 years?

Breaking Ground has already impacted thousands of lives. I expect the organization to grow in a sustainable manner, continuing to build upon it’s successes thus far. Currently we work in two regions. I am hopeful that in 10 years the theory of community development and fostering local ideas will have spread throughout Cameroon. I expect Breaking Ground to be in all regions of Cameroon and to have partnered with hundreds of communities and local ngo’s. However, if I were to dream, in 10 years Breaking Ground wouldn’t need to exist in Cameroon because these communities would have water, fair trade, schools, hospitals, etc. and the power to improve their communities themselves. We can all dream, can’t we?

When did you start traveling?

I remember traveling with my family at a very young age. I was raised in rural North Carolina and my parents wanted my brothers and I to know that there was another world outside of the small mountain town we knew and loved. They knew that travel is the best form of education.

How and why did you travel for the first time?

At age 16, a few years after the Apartheid ended, I traveled to South Africa with a youth exchange program. We participated in many team-building and challenging exercises throughout the beautiful nation, but what most impacted me was our experience in SOWETO and other townships. The blatant injustice and racism taking place greatly impacted me. I knew from that moment that I wanted to work towards positive change. I couldn’t turn a blind eye to what I had witnessed and I needed to see what the rest of the world was like, good and bad.


In what places have you lived and what languages do you speak?

How do you define lived? If lived is having one main residence for a few months, then I can say France, Cameroon, Vietnam and all over the United States. Within the next two years I will “live” in Indonesia, Thailand and England. On good days I speak English and French. I pretend that I speak Spanish and Fulfulde and depending on the topic, many people believe me.

What’s your favorite city so far?

Leave me in the mountains!

If you could only take one item with you to travel the world (other than your passport), what would it be?

My toothbrush!

Give us your global nomad profile:

window or aisle? Window

boat or plane? Boat

train or bus? Train

walk or bike? Depends on the scenery. Tie!

metro or trolley? Trolley

tropical, temperate, polar? As long as I can play outside, I love it all!

hotel, hostel or local’s apartment? Local’s apartment

must have fashion piece when traveling? I’d have a hard time without my head wraps. I can’t always wash my hair and it’s great to wrap up my hair with colorful patterns.

explore/map or tour guide? Explore sans map!