Kenya: Health and Community Development

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"SIT Kenya was the best experience I have had during college. I have never experienced the classroom "come to life" like it did for me when I studied abroad in Kenya. The people, the place, and my host families all made my stay even better. I felt like I was truly immersed into the culture, and I was so grateful to Jamal, Odoch, Mama Mary, Miltone, and all of the language professors for their hard work and dedication."

-- Deondra Jacobs, Albion College

Explore the intersections of economics, health, and social development in Kenya.

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Kenya is home to more than 40 ethnic groups, each retaining a strong sense of cultural identity.  Students will learn about Kenya’s advances in educational training, infrastructure, and technical development, and gain an understanding of the vibrant private sector and successful coalition-building efforts that have helped to strengthen Kenya’s economy.

Homestays and educational excursions help illustrate that access to health care remains an issue for this predominantly rural population. Students interact with a wide array of local contacts in cosmopolitan, multiethnic Nairobi, the regional base for numerous local and international nongovernmental organizations engaged in development and health-related projects.

In-country resources and program partners generally include:

• University of Nairobi
• National Museums of Kenya

SIT Study Abroad alum co-founds Kibera School for Girls Jessica Posner, a Wesleyan University student and 2007 participant of SIT Study Abroad’s Kenya: Health and Development Program, was so moved by her experiences in Kenya that she teamed up with Kennedy Odede, a native of Nairobi, to establish the Kibera School for Girls. Now in its second year, the school uses an innovative approach that provides education as well as essential health and economic services to the community, with a special focus on young women and girls.     SIT Study Abroad alum studied self-esteem of Kenyan girls Wellesley senior Katie Bunten-Wren of Eliot, Maine, presented her research "Drawings of Dreams: The Power of Women's Education in Kakuma, Kenya," at the annual Tanner Conference at Wellesley College. Read article...   SIT alum finds education scholarships for Kenyan youth Lydia Spitalny, Ohio Wesleyan University, and a 2007 student on this program, is currently the Co-Executive Director of Education for the Future Foundation, an education nonprofit organization in Kenya that is partnering with SIT Study Abroad Kenya. The partnership will allow SIT students to work with EFF to research issues of education as part of their Independent Research Project. Lydia has also completed the SIT Graduate Institute CONTACT course in peacebuilding and conflict transformation.

Browse this program's Independent Study Projects/Undergraduate Research