Pepperdine Students Studying Abroad in Buenos Aires Continue Legacy of Serving Local Community
At the heart of Argentina is Buenos Aires, the country’s dynamic and bustling capital city. Drawn to its unique character and vibrant culture, Pepperdine University launched a study abroad program in the South American city in 2000. Since then, students have had the opportunity to engage with the local community and immerse themselves in the country’s lively atmosphere through travel and service projects. Though once a small initiative, the study abroad program has steadily grown to accommodate 60 to 65 students annually while expanding its service efforts across the region. This growth has inspired students to actively pursue opportunities to serve the Argentine community in various ways—most notably during one of the extra long weekends when students are invited to visit a once-isolated community that was in dire need of support.
In 2015, two students studying in the program at the time proposed a service trip to El Negrito, a remote village in northern Argentina that lacked essential resources such as running water and electricity. Seeking administrative support and guidance, they approached senior vice chancellor for alumni affairs Hung Le (’87, MA ’03), then the associate vice president and university registrar. Aware of his experience with Pepperdine’s Kenya: Made in the Streets summer program, the students invited Le to serve as a trip advisor.
Corinne Le, children from El Negrito, Sister Vero, and Hung Le
Le recognized the challenges of bringing students to the remote area but was deeply moved by the community’s warmth and their profound needs. This visit sparked a lasting, transformative relationship with the village, and students have continued to return to El Negrito each spring, where they partner with Engineers Without Borders to gather data and implement water solutions like cisterns and rain collection systems.
“It has been truly incredible to collaborate with and serve various Argentine communities through Pepperdine,” says Le. “This program helps to foster meaningful connections while seamlessly integrating our students into the local culture.“Seeing our students make a profound difference in the lives of the Argentinian people has been an extraordinary experience.”
In El Negrito, students live simply, foregoing regular showers and tasked with bringing their own supplies. But they often depart the village with a transformed perspective that is shaped by the power of service and a meaningful connection with an extraordinary community.
This year, due to the timing of the Easter holiday and students’ final exam schedule for the spring semester, Le was unable to facilitate the annual trip to El Negrito. Instead, this past March, Le and team decided to bring a group of eight children and two mothers from the village to experience life with Pepperdine students at the University’s international campus in Buenos Aires. The visit provided numerous first-time experiences for the children, including flying on an airplane, taking a hot shower, and discovering what life is like beyond their village. The children were also invited to participate in a service activity helping students make sandwiches for those in need in the local community while also spending time together crafting, playing games, and exploring the city.
Pepperdine students making sandwiches with El Negrito children
“I was nervous that the experience could be overwhelming for the children since the city is very busy and they would be exposed to many new things within a short period of time,” explained Nickolas Fieldhouse, a Seaver College student currently studying abroad. ”Once they arrived, however, their nerves quickly changed to excitement, and I noticed they found so much joy in the things that we often take for granted in our everyday lives.”
A highlight of the visit was an early Easter celebration at Adulam, a foster community regularly supported by the students in the Buenos Aires program. Corinne, Le’s wife and children’s minister for the University Church, introduced the children to resurrection eggs—an interactive tradition unfamiliar to the Argentinians. Each of the 12 plastic eggs contained a symbol and a scripture reference, illustrating the events leading up to Jesus’ resurrection.
The celebration culminated with a joyful Easter egg hunt, which fostered deeper connections between the village children, Pepperdine students, and local organizations, including a convent that partners with Pepperdine to feed the needy. The convent hosted some of the visiting children during their stay in Buenos Aires, while a former Pepperdine homestay family accommodated the rest of the group. Le described the experience as “profoundly moving” and emphasized the program’s mission of service and meaningful connection.
For the students, witnessing the children’s joy throughout their visit was a truly special experience—one that offered an unforgettable lesson: happiness stems from the deep connections we share with others.
"A week filled with laughter and big smiles was meaningful to them because they experienced it together,” recalls Fieldhouse. “Being part of that made it even more special for me. I know that when they return home and share their stories, they will carry that same joy back to their communities. The bonds between these children have deepened my understanding of the El Negrito community—a culture rooted in relationships and faith.”
Pepperdine students in Buenos Aires
In Buenos Aires, students are presented with unique opportunities to engage in meaningful service that enriches their study abroad experience. While all of Pepperdine’s international programs provide substantial personal and academic growth, what sets Buenos Aires apart is the deep sense of joy and fulfillment students gain from dedicating their free time to serving others. Many leave with a renewed appreciation for their own blessings and a strengthened commitment to helping others during their unforgettable time in Buenos Aires.
"Buenos Aires offers students incredible opportunities to serve, which is a key part of the high-impact experience we want all our students to have while studying abroad," says Le. "Students find meaningful ways to connect with the people and culture, which enhances the beauty and power of our carefully designed international programs. We see similar stories unfolding among our students in Malibu, but ultimately, we do this because of our mission—this is the 'why' behind what we do."