My favorite travel memory is of reaching the top of Mount Sugarloaf in the Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts, whilst I was studying abroad in the States. The view from the top of the so-called Mount (more of a hill!) was amazing; the trees were blood-red with the changing of the seasons. It was a visual reminder to me that people and places are dynamic and are changing all the time, and that transformation should be celebrated and appreciated.
Staff Spotlight: Dr. Heidi Barends
Title:
Academic Program Manager
Heidi holds a PhD in English Language and Literature from the University of Cape Town where she was involved in research and teaching from 2014-2018. She was also a faculty member at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology from 2015-2018. Heidi’s work in programming at EDU Africa is an ideal translation of her research interests – she is passionate about ethical exchange between African countries and the rest of the world, and EDU Africa offers her a platform to achieve this.
What is your favorite travel memory?
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
Since working at EDU Africa, I've become a lot more aware of humans' impact on the environment and each other. Study abroad can be an incredible, collaborative endeavor, but it can also be harmful for host communities and natural spaces if not managed correctly. Working at EDU Africa challenges me daily to think through concepts of sustainability, integrity, and ethics.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
This is tough -- so many of our students have great stories. The best ones are those that show students' maturation; that studying abroad in Africa has challenged their preconceptions and stereotypes, made them kinder and more compassionate, and encouraged them to broaden their thinking on multiple levels.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
The Ecology program in Kenya!
It's interdisciplinary, it offers students access to world-class academics in the form of Dr. Sharon Kahara and Dr. Stewart Thompson, and it raises much-needed awareness about the wonderful projects of restoration underway in Kenya (forest, wetlands, and savannah). Students also spend the bulk of the program in the Maasai Mara (which is really a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list destination), meaningfully contributing to research in the area.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
I think our commitment to the transformation of the students that travel with us, as well as a commitment to ensuring students have a positive impact on the communities and countries they engage with in Africa, is unique. Additionally, we're more than just a ground-handler: we're invested and engaged with the educational aspects of the programs we facilitate.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
A commitment to, and belief in, the value of Family.
It is certainly one of EDU Africa's core values and ensures that we treat each other with loyalty, empathy, and respect (even though we may disagree at times!). The students and faculty that travel with us are an extension of that family, and I do think it's what makes us successful.