Every Thursday, Angelina Kapp ’18 enters Cafe International in where she is greeted by the familiar smile of the owner who soon provides her with her typical order: a mug of black tea. Cafe International is situated in Erkelenz, Germany, and acts as an oasis for refugees to learn, converse and search for career or educational opportunities by collaborating with Germans, including Angelina and her host mother.

“It is so important to be aware of global events and to be compassionate,” Kapp said. “We live in one world, our nationality is humankind, and we have to pay attention to history and the events around us.”

Kapp arrived in Germany on July 31 along with 50 other exchange students. As an eighth grader, Angelina realized her yearning to study abroad and figured there was no reason she should have to wait until college to experience another culture. After ample research, Kapp discovered and applied for a scholarship which is currently funding her year abroad, she said.

“When she first said it was something she wanted to do, I was excited and I encouraged her,” Kapp’s mother, Gia Kapp, said. “She was so excited and she did such a wonderful job [with the application process], we knew we couldn’t say no.”

Despite having only taken one year of German at LT, Angelina was comfortable traveling across the globe to learn more about the German language and culture.

“She is one-of-a-kind,” German teacher Karen Hoobyar said. “Her relentless joy and zeal for life let alone school is absolutely refreshing. She is one of the most reliable, organized and hard-working students I’ve ever had.”

In between attending a German school and exploring new things with her friends and host sisters, Angelina has devoted a portion her time in Germany to aiding African and Middle Eastern refugees who have fled from the devastation of their home countries. According to Angelina, working with the refugees has expanded her political opinions and brought to fruition the fluidity of gender roles between countries and towns.

“I have absolutely no reason not to want to jump out of bed in the morning with a smile on my face,” Angelina said. “Meeting all of these people has shown me how much I take for granted. I am so utterly blessed for my school here in Germany and for LT, and for anyone to take our education as something that is naturally given is foolish, because it is not everywhere in the world—yet.”

In addition to her weekly visits to Cafe International, Angelina is involved in an organization at her school, “Eine Welt” (One World), which is currently organizing a program that would involve working closely with refugee children and teenagers.

“She is being the hands and feet of the world to people in need,” Gia said. “I am amazed by her, I’m proud of her and I’m living vicariously through her.”