What if the exchange trip you took as a teenager ended up saving your life years later? We sit down with Kamal Kenny from Malaysia to trace a journey that starts in Interact, winds through Rotary’s Group Study Exchange in California, and collides with a medical crisis that would test anyone’s limits. Kamal opens up about living with host families in Thailand and Japan, learning the rhythms of community service from the inside, and how those early lessons in empathy and adaptability shaped his work in healthcare and, later, his path back from organ failure and an induced coma.
Kamal walks us through the vocational side of Rotary’s exchanges: observing hospital operations in the U.S., comparing insurance processes, and translating those insights into practical changes in Malaysia. When his kidneys failed, and doctors doubted he’d return to teaching or even write again, he reached for the same tools service had taught him—patience, purpose, and teamwork. The result is a powerful blend of survivor perspective and policy know‑how. He now channels that lived experience into NGO partnerships, drafting guidance for maternal and adolescent health and mentoring young people who want to serve with impact.
Across the conversation, we highlight how global service experiences can build durable resilience, the kind you need when life goes off script. You’ll hear the role Rotary families played across borders, why cultural immersion beats quick fixes, and how to turn personal trials into community outcomes. If you’re considering hosting a student, applying for an exchange, or encouraging a young leader, this story shows how those choices compound across a lifetime.
If you would like to purchase Kamaal’s book follow the link: https://books2read.com/u/bzlrnZ
If the episode moves you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—who in your life needs a nudge to start their own service journey?
