From Notre Dame to Nairobi: Students Address Education Equity with Impact Champions Tutoring Program

When Elena Herpel ’26 first considered tutoring, it wasn’t because math was her favorite subject or that she dreamed of becoming a teacher. It was because she recognized the power of education and the responsibility to share it.

Growing up, Elena realized not every student received the same opportunities she and her siblings did, even when they worked just as hard. This inequity weighed on her, pushing her to find a way to give back.

That chance came through her cousin, who invited Elena to shadow a tutoring session for children in Nairobi, Kenya, through Impact Champions Tutoring Program. It was a simple invitation, but it sparked a transformative experience.

Elena enthusiastically took on the challenge, spending weeks preparing lesson plans and working to ensure a positive experience for all.

 “Initially, I was concerned I would let the kids down,” she admitted. But what she found on the other end of the Zoom screen were eager, remarkably focused young students—ages 8 to 12—who soaked up every bit of knowledge like sponges.

Over 10 weeks, Elena watched her students grow more confident with multiplication. Their joy in learning mirrored her own joy in teaching, and each smile, each correct answer, felt like a personal victory.

But the biggest lessons weren’t mathematical. Tutoring helped Elena conquer her fear of public speaking and taught her how to adapt when technology failed or nerves crept in. 

More importantly, it reminded her to stay open to new experiences, new people, and new ways of making a difference.

“I was not expecting how much I would love these kids,” Elena reflected. Their energy, curiosity, and kindness changed her more than she could have imagined.

By summer’s end, Elena hadn’t just taught math. She had shared a piece of herself and, in doing so, had been changed for the better. 

“Tutoring made me a better student, a better communicator, and a more balanced person,” Elena said. “But most of all, it reminded me that education is a gift—and it’s meant to be shared.”

Elena brought this innovative program dedicated to bridging the education gap through global volunteerism and tech-powered learning to ND this past school year. Now, 12 Global Citizen Scholars are working to plan and deliver live virtual lessons to students ages 9–11.