Alumnus Jake Nichols and Professor Regan Schaffer Reunite in Uganda for Service-Learning Trip with Kibo Group
Roles were reversed this summer when alumnus Jake Nichols (’22), development director for the faith-inspired nonprofit Kibo Group, stepped into the position as teacher, guiding his former professor Regan Schaffer (MA ‘93, EdD ‘02) on an immersive trip to Kibo Group in Uganda. From June 19 to July 3, Schaffer, divisional dean of business administration and professor of organizational and behavior management at Pepperdine, and her family joined Nichols to observe Kibo Group’s mission of addressing injustice, poverty, and education in East African communities.
“It was great to be there with Regan, show her everything that I learned, and hear her thoughts,” says Nichols. “As part of the Kibo Way, visitors aren’t serving as much as they are there to be learners, observing the staff as they do their asset based work. ”
Jake Nichols speaking with Kibo Group members
Nichols planned Schaffer’s trip to Uganda by collaborating with Ugandan staff to arrange travel, housing, and learning opportunities. He also recommended relevant books and documentaries to prepare Schafer and her family for the project-based initiatives they would participate in while in Uganda like visiting primary schools to learn about the Kibo Group’s Life Skills program and their reusable sanitary pad project, as well as learning about their WASH program’s construction of clean water wells.
“I recall Jake’s great listening skills as a student and his ability to ask the deeper questions that focused on the intent and impact of our work, particularly in the nonprofit context,” says Schaffer. “It was amazing to see our roles change as he served as my teacher while on this trip.”
As a member of Kibo Group’s Board of Trustees, Schaffer had introduced Nichols to the organization while he was a Seaver undergraduate through her nonprofit management and leadership classes. Throughout his Pepperdine education, Nichols majored in international studies with a minor in nonprofit management where he traveled to Jordan, Switzerland, and Washington, DC, with Pepperdine’s international programs, engaging in cross-cultural experiences that prepared him for his role at Kibo Group.
“Teaching cross-cultural engagement involves planting little seeds by asking student questions that prompt reflection on all the layers that add to creating sustainable communities,” says Schaffer. “Jake’s maturity and depth are what enabled him to so seamlessly step into his role with Kibo Group, where he understood the complexities and humble approach needed to come alongside others to empower them.”
Jake Nichols dining with fellow Kibo Group members
Kibo Group, co-founded by John D. Barton, Pepperdine professor of teaching of religion and director of the Center for Faith and Learning, began as a network of friendships between a team of Ugandans and Americans in the mid 1990s. Now encompassing an expanding community, Kibo Group is dedicated to cultivating sustainable living through asset-based community development focused on utilizing existing strengths and resources within local areas.
By consulting Ugandan locals on projects necessary to improve their quality of life, Kibo Group has facilitated the development of clean water access points, the construction of fuel-efficient stoves, planting trees in areas affected by deforestation, and establishing educational programs that directly work with primary and secondary students. Additionally, the Kibo Group organizes adult-focused classes on marital health, physical and spiritual wellness, family planning, and advancement of gender equity.
“Every community has assets that are not only physical things that we think about such as houses and vehicles,” explains Nichols. “Cultural assets involve how households are managed, how communities convene, and how agriculture is approached. Kibo believes that we don't need to import solutions, but rather include an area's existing cultural assets into building a healthier community.”