Work
Summer course in Kenya
Together with other youth between 15 and 17, you will experience the special atmosphere when we travel to Kenya to learn about the culture, go on safaris, visit villages and much more. The course will give you an insight into the Kenyan society, culture and people.
Interesting and inspiring classes
Most of the programme will take place outside of the classroom when we go on excursion in the local area and visit people who can teach us about the Kenyan culture. You will get to work creatively with the topics you find interesting. The classes will be interactive and engaging, and will be combined with excursions, experiences and fun. It will definitely not be boring! The trainers are Kenyan and will teach in English. However, it will be at a basic level, so everyone can join.
Cross-cultural experiences
You will gain new perspectives on the Kenyan culture through discussions, excursions, presentations and creative processes taking place in a safe environment with other youth at your age. We will discuss important issues with the people we meet: What does ”a good life” mean? What are we dreaming about? What does globalisation mean when living on the savannah compared to where you usually live? The course will take place next to the Daraja Academy girls’ school, which will make an exciting cultural meeting possible with the girls. The cultural meeting encourages many exciting conversations and fun moments.
Amazing experiences
You will gain an understanding of what it is like to live in Kenya in an increasingly globalised world. You will get a lot of insights and experiences, while having fun together with other young people. There are many opportunities in the area such as cycling safari, fantastic walks in the area where you might be so lucky to meet a zebra or a baboon. We will also go on exciting excursions to Karen Blixen’s famous farm and for one weekend you can choose to go on a safari and watch ”The Big Five”. You will also see Africa’s largest slum area Kibera a little outside of Nairobi, which is a very special experience and might make an impression.
The programme
This youth course combines a global insight with community engagement and fun activities. If you want to learn more about the world and yourself, while at the same time creating new friendships with youth from across the world, then you should definitely join this summer course in Kenya. Our skilled Kenyan trainers will take you on excursions, share stories from their life and culture, guide and help you and answer all of your questions along the way.
The course will start with an introduction on the 5th of June where you will participate via skype. Here you will be prepared for your stay in Kenya.
Highlights from the programme
Week 1: Culture and local living conditions
- Introduction to Kenya: Historically, politically and culturally
- Morning walk to local area to see baboons
- Learn a bit of Swahili
- Learn about ethnic groups and the structure of the Kenyan society
- Learn about poverty through visits to poor urban and rural areas
- Work with forum theatre
- Visit Kenyan families and meet local youth
- Sports, church visit (optional) and movie night!
Week 2: Communication and rights
- Learn about drought and hunger and visit a nearby village
- Learn about women’s rights and meet with a women’s group
- Focus on gender and visit women fighting for their rights
- Masai culture and lessons in traditional Masai dance
- Visit to school
- Trip to Nairobi
- Visit a giraffe hospital
- Visit the largest slum area in Africa, Kibera
NB: The programme is subject to change.
Trainers
Sungu Oyoo: My name is Sungu, and I have been teaching at the global platform during the last three years. I will be one of the trainers at the course. I have studied economics at Nairobi University, and today I work for creating social change and really enjoy providing students at the course more knowledge on Kenya. I really appreciate the special atmosphere of openness, curiosity and fun at the courses on the platform.
Jessie K. Githigia: I am the Swahili teacher and have many years of experience from the Kenyan education system as a teacher and as a school manager. You will learn basic Swahili, which is really useful in Kenya. I have been living in Nanyuki for a long time and I will join you on many of the excursions during the course.
Travel guide
A travel guide from MS Denmark will join the group throughout the course. The travel guide will be there, if you have any questions or concerns about any practicalities during the course.
Accomodation and food
The course will take place at a training centre which we call a “Global Platform”. The global platform is located on the savannah half an hour from the nearest town Nanyuki. On the roads in the area you will meet zebras, baboons and camels and you can, together with the other participants, experience the sunrise over Mount Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa. We will sleep in dorms at the global platform where we will also share all our meals and have all the classes, when we are not on excursions in the area. We will have three meals a day and you will get to try the local Kenyan food. The global platform is located right next to a girls’ school, so you might get to meet and spend time with some of the girls. There will also be another youth course running at the platform, while you are there, so there will be good chances for meeting young people and sharing experiences.
Location and leisure
In your spare time you can explore the area and see many sides of the savannah – what about a sunrise over Mount Kenya? You can play cards, or play games in the small yard, and on weekends you can go on safari, play soccer with the girls at the nearby school and have bonfires during the evenings. In the nearest town of Nanyuki you can visit the restaurants or the large supermarket, if you would like to eat out or buy snacks. There will definitely be good chances to have fun!
Project hosted by
MS Denmark has a long history of sending volunteers, organising work camps and global courses. We are part of ActionAid, and we fight against inequality by supporting marginalised people in fighting for their rights and organising to break the structures which holds them back in poverty. We also organise and facilitate cultural meetings as we believe this can bring about understanding, respect and international solidarity.
Meeting point
Pickup will be in the airport. Time of arrival will be notified upon confirmation.
Additional comments
The extra fee of the camp includes: - Accommodation and food all days (three meals a day) - Induction course the 5th of June (on Skype) - All workshops, excursions and project visits as planned in the program - All local transportation - Local trainer following the group during the whole program - Access to 24 hours emergency phone.
The extra fee does not include: - Travel insurance.
Important information about transportation; When confirming your participation on the camp, we will make sure to provide you with detailed instructions on where and when to meet the group. Please don’t buy any flight tickets or travel insurance etc. before your participation is confirmed by us. Please note that it is of your own responsibility to buy a suitable travel insurance.