Global classrooms: Madagascar
By Grace Sanborn ’25
The Lafayette Initiative for Malagasy Education rang in its 15th year over the winter interim. David Stifel, Charles A. Dana Professor of Economics and department head, and Susan Wenze, associate professor of psychology and assistant department head, traveled with a cohort of 12 Lafayette students to Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Founded by Stifel in 2010, the LIME program pairs Lafayette students with Malagasy peers at the Lycée Andohalo to help prepare the Malagasy students for applications to institutes of higher education.
Unlike other winter interim programs, LIME is a 1.5 year commitment for Lafayette students, who prepare to mentor Malagasy students the semester before departing and assist selected students with their applications to college once returning.
“Seeing connections develop and strengthen between the Malagasy students and our Lafayette students over the course of the three-week opportunity was inspiring, energizing, and uplifting—one of the best professional experiences of my life!” Wenze says.
William Gutierrez ’27, on the math mentoring team, says he wanted to go because of his interests in public service and education.
He says that LIME allowed him to be grateful for what he has.
“Madagascar is a country that has a 75% poverty rate, and there are areas of the country that are significantly underdeveloped, yet I see so many people working hard, happy and grateful for what they have,” Gutierrez says. “Many work very, very hard for the opportunity to study at university. We are in a very privileged position here in the United States where education is much more accessible.”
The course also included a journey to Andasibe, where students were able to interact with Malagasy wildlife like chameleons and the endemic lemurs. The cohort also met with Peace Corps volunteers at Ampefy.
Gutierrez says he was touched by the kindness of the Malagasy students.
“They are the most hardworking and kind students I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with, honestly smarter than some Lafayette students,” Gutierrez says.
