Cultivating Ubuntu: A Community-Based Agricultural Initiative in Mbhashe

Research Location: Mbhashe, South Africa
Conservation Partners: Battle of Lurwayizo Development (BOLD) and the Mbhashe Municipality

Faculty Mentors

Camille Andrews, Dr. Mara Dicenta, Erica Garroutte (2023), and Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo (2023)

Past Student Researchers

Lelia Cottin-Rack '28, Major: Art History; 2026 CRP
Jolie La Sueur '28, Major: Economics; 2026 CRP
Lindsay Fisher '26, Majors: Integrative Conservation and Environmental Humanities; 2025
Kylee Ledford '27, Major: Public Health (currently Kinesiology: concentration Public Health); 2025
Eden Giannini '25, Majors: Public Health and Environmental Science; 2024
Patrick Hoover '26, Majors: Public Health and Environmental Science; 2024
Jack Long '27, Majors: International Relations and History; 2024
Chidiebele Akunwafor '25, Majors: Kinesiology and Data Science; 2023
Allison Nkhansah '26, Majors: Public Health and Economics; 2023

Project Description

The Battle of Lurwayizo (BoLD) initiative seeks to transform conflict into peace and prosperity through commemoration of the Battle of Lurwayizo, an apartheid-era conflict that displaced communities from their lands and disrupted longstanding relationships with the environment and agricultural production. In partnership with William & Mary students, BoLD will explore the legacies of environmental injustice on local agricultural food systems, including how displacement, changing land use, climate pressures, and limited resources have shaped food security, livelihoods, and community relationships with the land. Through a One Health lens, the project considers the connections between environmental health, agricultural systems, human wellbeing, and sustainable livelihoods.

In 2027, William & Mary students will support research that examines how communities are responding to these legacies through Ubuntu—collective action, mutual support, and shared responsibility. Particular attention will be given to community-led agricultural practices that bring people together to restore food production, strengthen relationships, care for the land, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities. By connecting historical reflection and commemoration with contemporary community action, the project seeks to understand how Ubuntu is being practiced today and how collective approaches to agriculture and conservation can contribute to healthier, more resilient communities in Mbhashe.

Skills and Prereqs

Two students are required, we are looking for students who are flexible when plans change, are commited to careful listening and respectful community engagement, and who show an interest in agriculture, One Health, and collaborative work.

Travel

This project will involve international travel to rural South Africa during the summer research period, including long-distance flights and a month in the field. Students should be prepared for lengthy international travel, local ground transportation within South Africa, rural and outdoor field conditions, community-based research activities, and potentially long or variable field days. Flexibility, adaptability, and comfort with travel and changing field conditions will be important for this project.

Notes for Applicants

This project is a good fit for students interested in community-based conservation, human–environment relationships, and applied field research. Students should be comfortable working closely with local communities and partners, adapting to unfamiliar environments, and approaching cross-cultural experiences with curiosity, flexibility, cultural humility, and a willingness to listen and learn.

Number of Students

Project ID

23-023-27- Semester and Year

Interested in this project?

Review the CRP application requirements and submit your application by October 25, 2026.