A New Zealand student will travel to Turkey for three weeks, including Anzac Day, as part of an exchange program for descendants of those who served in the Gallipoli campaign.
Gallipoli Award Recipient to Travel to Turkey
Lexie Knight will participate in the AFS Intercultural Programs exchange, which requires applicants to be descendants of Gallipoli campaign veterans and to complete a research project connecting their ancestors’ experiences to their own lives. Knight discovered letters written by her great-great-great-grandmother, Ellen Knight, detailing the experiences of her sons, Herbert, George, and Douglas.
Knight described immersing herself in the project as a deeply personal experience, spending much of her time outside of school gathering stories from five generations of family members. She noted a lifelong interest in World War I, citing Diana Menefy’s 1915: Wounds of War as a favorite book, and was particularly moved to learn her great-uncle George served on the same hospital ship, the Maheno, featured in the book.
While preparing for the trip, Knight admitted to feeling nervous about traveling away from home for the first time, but also expressed excitement about experiencing a new culture. She hopes to visit the grave of her great-great-grandfather, Herbert, who died in the second battle of Krithia at Cape Helles, Gallipoli.
Knight views the trip as an opportunity to learn about the war outside of a classroom setting and highlighted the relatable aspects of her ancestors’ lives. “George, he really loved books, and he was a librarian and stuff, and that’s exactly like me,” she said.
Her mother, Beth Knight, expressed immense pride in her daughter’s dedication, noting the family’s encouragement and Lexie’s enthusiastic embrace of the opportunity, even learning Turkish in preparation.
Linda Rotaeche, marketing manager for AFS Intercultural Programs, emphasized the organization’s mission, established in 1947 by former World War II volunteer ambulance drivers, to promote peace through intercultural understanding. “The idea is very simple. The more we know each other, the more we understand each other, the less likely we are to go to war with each other,” Rotaeche stated.
The exchange program will take students through Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Canakkale, where they will stay with volunteer host families, visit historic sites, and participate in community events. Participants will also attend the New Zealand Anzac service at Anzac Cove on April 25.
Rotaeche, a former exchange student herself, described the experience as transformative, leading to increased maturity, resilience, and self-confidence. AFS Intercultural Programs has awarded over $430,000 in scholarships for its exchange programs in the past three years and plans to continue offering the Gallipoli Award and other scholarships.
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