There is nothing like international travel. When individuals travel abroad, they experience firsthand how others live, how they interact, what they value. They learn how people across the globe are fundamentally similar and different.
It is clear from conversations with students that travel abroad transforms and develops them as leaders who recognize that they can positively influence the world around them. The first step is recognizing the broader world, which happens most profoundly face-to-face.
At Doane, we continue to expand our international offerings because we believe nothing can replace the critical importance and sheer excitement of travel. We want our students to see Africa through the lens of a semester abroad with Betty Levitov or Kay Hegler, perhaps Thailand with Dick Dudley and Lyn Forester, or France and Italy with Valerie Knobel or JL Vertin. By traveling, our students develop a lifelong confidence that permits them to go outside of their comfort zone to connect with others.
This issue of the Doane Magazine focuses on travel abroad, not only because it is important to our students' educations but also because, through these trips, our faculty and students connect in invaluable life-changing ways that are uniquely Doane.
Last summer, I experienced something that would not have been possible, but for Doane and our international presence. I volunteered at the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) and spent time with our very own Toshihiro "Tom" Takami '56, one of Doane's most distinguished alumni and ARI founder. It was a tremendous experience, expanding my education in unique ways.
Over 30 years ago, Tom founded ARI-an organization located north of Tokyo that teaches community leaders from around the world how to engage in farming without relying on external resources or funding. It is the ultimate form of sustainability. It is also the emblem of servant leadership because these leaders go back to their communities and teach others.
Tom is unable to do physically all that he once could. Yet, when I first met him almost two years ago, something in his eyes conveyed tremendous energy and momentum. A warmth. A passion. A drive. You could not miss it. I sensed something very special. I knew I needed to spend more time with him.
I asked Tom what inspired him to create ARI. He responded that he and members of his church went to Bangladesh in 1971 to help victims of a massive flood. He raised $1 million in relief aid, which had never been done before. During Tom's three months in Bangladesh, he decided he needed to do something more for this world. Thus began the Asian Rural Institute.
During my visit, participants asked me why a college president was farming at ARI. Someone even jokingly questioned why I traveled halfway around the world to weed. There are plenty of weeds in Nebraska. I answered that this was the best way I could imagine to honor Tom's tremendous work. What better way to show him his selfless efforts have changed the world?
This trip provided an opportunity to experience the deep spirit and connections that come when people work together toward a common goal. During my time there, I helped Theodora of Cameroon plant her huckleberry seeds. I cleaned out mulch bins with participants from Bangladesh and Pakistan. I talked to Moses from Ethiopia about higher education in the United States. At the end of the day, these personal relationships matter- connections at a basic, human level that are only possible by going out and forging them. We want Doane students to have these experiences.
Last fall, the Japanese Emperor visited ARI, a very high honor. Tom also received the Ramon Magsaysay Award-the Asian version of the Nobel Peace Prize. He is simply a hero in Japan. At Doane, we are all so proud of Tom for the fame and recognition he has appropriately received, and yet, fame and recognition are furthest from his mind.
At Doane, leading by example is at the heart of what we believe an education should provide. We want our students to live in a constant state of self-assessment, contemplating how their interests relate to others. We hope that they live a life of self-reflection in which they figure out for themselves how to serve others.
This is most profoundly possible when students see how people live beyond the four corners of the United States. This exposure helps them to understand the needs of others and how we can meet them. Tom Takami and ARI provided me such an opportunity and I am profoundly indebted. I recommend highly that you consider helping at ARI, where volunteers are always welcome.
Enjoy this issue as we explore the experiences of others at Doane who are leading the way in international travel. And, as always, thank you for all that you do for Doane.