Knox Students Experience New Culture and Community in Lesotho

In June, Knox students traveled to Lesotho, Africa, for a month-long program focused on community partnerships, education, and sustainable development. Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio administered the program. Daniel J. Logan Associate Professor of Peace and Justice Studies Leanne Trapedo Sims accompanied the students after having engaged with Wittenberg on the program for nearly a year. 

“It was fantastic; I think for them it may be one of the most important things they might do in their lives,” Trapedo Sims said. “The setting of Lesotho, which has one of the highest poverty rates in the world, had an impact on the students. I think it was profound for the students to be in the communities and have the opportunity to engage with people. It was heart-warming how much the kids in these communities welcomed us all in.”

The trip is a pilot immersive project and came about because Wittenberg Professor Scott Rosenberg's son, Josh, was a student in Trapedo Sims’ Introduction to Peace and Justice Studies class. This is the first time Knox has participated in an immersive learning experience in Lesotho. With the trip's success and Knox’s commitment to immersive programs, Trapedo Sims hopes the program will continue to evolve and grow. Trapedo Sims, who was born and raised in South Africa during Apartheid, believes giving students the chance to see a part of the world not offered by many study abroad or immersive programs provides experiences rarely available at other schools.

“I think immersive programs are one thing that does distinguish us,” she said. “A lot of colleges have immersion and study abroad, but I think this trip is so unique. There are very important lessons for all of us about belonging to a global community. I learned so much returning to South Africa after 30 years. There are a variety of lessons to be learned around alliances with communities on the other side of the globe–which is why I feel it is so important for our undergraduate students to participate in such a rich transcultural experience.”

The program began with an invitation from Trapedo Sims to Scott Rosenberg, who visited Knox’s campus to discuss the Lesotho experience, which immediately drew student interest.

“I knew I wanted to go abroad, and I couldn’t stop thinking about this trip after the meetings,” physics major Cassie Wefel ’28 of Urbana, Illinois, said. “The idea of going somewhere I hadn’t considered before, somewhere completely new and unfamiliar, drew me in. I wanted to try something new and be put out of my comfort zone.”

During this experience, students built a Habitat for Humanity home for a family in need, supported an early childhood development center, painted educational murals and learning spaces in local schools, and provided classroom resources while improving community facilities. 

“The people of Leostho were very generous, very grateful, funny, and welcoming,” said history and environmental studies double major Ethan Brinkman ’27 of Cheyenne, Wyoming. “They all take care of each other; everyone was working to help their community, village, or town.”

The efforts delivered tangible support to families and schools while strengthening students’ global awareness, cultural fluency, and dedication to service. Students also met the King and Queen of Lesotho, sharing a meal and discussing life experiences. 

“This kind of thing is absolutely incredible. We were interacting with children while impacting the community. We hung out at the community center in the second town (Ha Ramabanta–a village in the Maluti Mountains of Lesotho) we stayed in and played with kids; it was really incredible,” elementary education major Quinten Jones ’28 of Chicago, Illinois, said. “They were so excited to see us and play around with new people. I personally sat with the king and queen. It was wild having lunch with reigning monarchs. It was incredible; we had conversations about pretty mundane things, infrastructure, travel, the dynamics between a parent and child. It was fun.”

Along with their community service work, students also visited local communities, took in the history and scenery of Lesotho, and went on a safari at Kruger National Park in South Africa.

“We were really lucky,” Jones said. “My group saw a rhino, a lot of elephants, giraffes, hippos, lions, crocodiles, and hyenas.” 

To help fund the trip, students used the Power of Experience Grant. The Power of Experience Grant provides all Knox students with up to $2,000 to support a qualifying experiential learning opportunity. The grant helps to fund the additional expenses that are often associated with research or creative work, internships, community service, or study abroad. The Peace and Justice Studies program along with Knox’s Africana Studies program also helped with funding.

“I used the Power of Experience Grant that Knox provides, which was a huge help; without it, I probably wouldn't have been able to go,” psychology and secondary education double major Kai Ackerman ’28 of Normal, Illinois, said. With the trip now behind them, the Knox students also hope the program grows and that more students give this experience a chance. 

“This trip in particular was fantastic, and I hope Knox students continue to participate,” Wefel said. “It was a great experience and use of the summer. I would say look at the details of your program, but don’t be afraid to say yes to something new or out of your comfort zone. In fact, I would recommend doing programs that feel like that.”