Kenya Internship Program

AIESEC gives student the opportunity to apply for an international volunteer in Kenya through the AIESEC OGX program.

Working in Kenya, Africa

Students get to work in the suburbs called "Marurui" slums, although only a dozen kilometres from Nairobi, but here there are already no urban high-rise and busy bustling streets in sight. Instead, there are low run-down temporary board room, dirty faced children wearing dirty clothes.

Although the life here is very hard, but there is a group of fearless, ambition and ideals, hope to change their destiny through the efforts of young people, they set up a youth organization called "Marurui United Youth Group (Muyog).

Local residents provide services such as Internet access, photocopying, catering, books and other services, and seek more assistance and support from Marurui residents and the Kenyan government, business and NGO organizations.

Internship roles include supporting the NGO to maintain their websites. A web administrator’s objective is to show the NGO’s commitment to local voluntary work and attract volunteers. Requirements for the role include web design and business process.  I learn while doing, do not understand where to go online to find the answer. Common challenges faced by interns would be the unstable local network connection and conversing with the locals.

Interns also help the locals directly by teaching them how to use a computer. A lot of them know nothing about the computer. Training includes basic mouse operation and navigating the browser interface.

Living in Africa

City dwellers may have cultural shock when living in Africa. Kenya is located in the East African Plateau where the climate is very pleasant. It is mostly dry season and sunny, with temperature maintained at 20 degrees. But due to desertification, there are frequent sand storm.

Local infrastructure is not perfect, there is no complete public transport system. Kenyan local dishes, plus the introduction of the colonial period to Kenya fries, fried chicken and other Western food, which generally constitute the Kenyan diet.

Put aside the inconvenience of life, Africa is indeed a magical land, a vast expanse of savannas. In my spare time, interns can travel to the world famous Wildlife Sanctuary "Masai Mara National Nature Reserve" to experience an authentic safari tour of Africa.