Student Impact Reports

"When people think of Africa, I feel as though many negatives come to mind; such as political unrest, war, poverty, unfavorable or unlivable conditions, and the list goes on. I would like to say that these stereotypes do not hold true for Kenya and many other African countries."

"I was fortunate enough to travel to Kenya in May of 2018 for a bit less than 3 weeks; here are a few highlights from my trip. Arriving in Nairobi after what seemed like days of traveling was both shocking and exciting."

By Hinal Modasia (Agribusiness Management major, International Agriculture and Sociology minor) “Behind every smile there is a story.”

Traveling abroad and doing human development work is challenging and rewarding; listen to your inner self, listen to others, be open, be accepting, be understanding, but most of all, be able to comprehend that your actions are done with good intent and a pure heart.

I keep going back because I want to a positive and driving force in the lives of the youth, just as they have been in mine.

This course has continued to challenge me, change me, and provide me with invaluable opportunities and learning experiences year after year.

From the HESE program I gained international experience and worked on an appropriate technology venture to address global problems, which helped me grow as a global professional.

While only three weeks passed in Kenya, for me and most of my classmates it seemed like months...

I will always remember the times I spent with the children, laughing and loving every minute of it...

I will never forget the first time I saw an African Lion in the Ngorongoro Crater, just a few feet from my jeep looking powerful, majestic and beautiful. And the cubs were adorable!

I was raised to value service to others above all things and the HESE program has enabled me to work on real-life, social entrepreneurial ventures with great social impact.

It was amazing to realize how similar these youth were to us even though we’ve grown up worlds away. I learned a lot about what it’s like to grow up in a developing country and that my hopes and aspirations are not that dissimilar from theirs.

It was so entertaining and interesting comparing our lives, and finding the similarities and differences between us... In addition, I feel that I have gained a whole new perspective on my life...

From May 17th until June 7th I was blessed to be able to spend time in Kenya.

Last spring I spent the semester researching different crop varieties that would grow well in Kenya but I never imagined what my experience in Kenya would actually be like.