“deepened my understanding of the importance of reconciliation in all parts of the world.”

Caroline Hart, Class of 2018

Caroline Hart spent six months in Rwanda through Wheaton College’s Human Needs and Global Resources program.

During her fall 2025 semester abroad, she was fully immersed in daily life—living with a host family and three host siblings, commuting into town, working weekdays, and building meaningful friendships with Rwandan youth through her church. Caroline also served as an intern with CARSA—Christian Action for Reconciliation and Social Assistance—an organization focused on reconciliation between genocide survivors and perpetrators. One program that particularly impacted her was Cows for Peace, in which a survivor and a perpetrator share a cow as both a symbol of peace and a source of economic support.

Reflecting on her experience, Caroline says, “The experience deepened my understanding of the importance of reconciliation in all parts of the world.” She witnessed what she described as “extreme forgiveness” and hopes to carry these lessons into her daily life, relationships, and future work. 

“I am eager to see how what I learned in Rwanda is implemented in my work and life after graduation,” she shared, emphasizing how these principles shape the way she interacts with others.

Yoezer Cassell, Class of 2019

Yoezer Cassell studied abroad in Singapore for five months, using the opportunity as a gateway to explore much of the surrounding region. His travels took him to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Borobudur and Bali, Indonesia; Melbourne and Sydney, Australia; Hong Kong; Taiwan; and even Tokyo, Japan, where he reunited with fellow Oaks Academy alumni.

Yoezer describes his time in Singapore as a meaningful opportunity to connect with people from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds. “Connecting with individuals of different cultures and regional backgrounds and learning about them and their history helped me learn to empathize with them,” he said. He shared meals with locals, collaborated on group projects, played street basketball in Hong Kong, and engaged in many one-on-one conversations that helped him build a strong sense of community. “That time shaped me into a better Christian servant leader now and in the future for my community in the U.S. and the broader global society,” he said.

Yoezer is a junior at Hope College, where he competes in track and field and cross country.

"That time shaped me into a better Christian servent leader now and in the future"

"I gained a new level of independence"

Aila Moshe, Class of 2021

Aila Moshe is no stranger to travel. She has studied abroad in Spain and Morocco and is already planning future experiences in the Middle East.

Aila first studied abroad during her junior year of high school, spending a full academic year in Spain, immersed in language classes and daily life through Culver Academy and the School Year Abroad Spain program. “I gained a new level of independence and discovered my deep love for travel,” she said.

In the summer of 2025, Aila traveled to Morocco for a seven-week intensive Arabic program, where she spent several hours each day in language classes and time with her host mother exploring nearby cities and local culture. She shared that the experience showed her “the results of my hard work,” shaping her into a more dedicated worker, which she carries to other areas. 

Aila is a freshman at Northeastern University in Boston, majoring in international studies with a minor in Middle Eastern Studies, and hopes to study abroad again in the Middle East soon.