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Youth Development and Leadership in Maasai Mara

Faculty-LedFaculty-Led | Multidisciplinary Kenya

Overview

This program will engage students with women, youth, and children who reside in the Maasai Mara. The only education systems within the Maasai Mara ecosystem have been community schools and vocational training centers for the youth. Participants will learn that not all young persons in the region attend school, with some leaving the school system before reaching the secondary and tertiary institution levels. Participating students will partner with youth in the Maasai Mara region to support them with capacity building, skills development, and preparation of programs that can assist students in forging their career paths. Students will also encounter leaders and leadership techniques in Kenya, offering them the opportunity to expand their networks and professional relationships. Students will learn valuable intercultural knowledge and communication skills and put them into practice as they interact with community members and exchange ideas with leaders and peers in a variety of sectors. They will also have opportunities to compare and contrast the principles of leadership held and practiced in Kenya with those in their home context. 

Why Maasai Mara?

While in the Mara students will gain first-hand experience at Mara Naboisho as they meet with the conservancy’s management and community leaders to develop an understanding of how the conservancy model works. They will also gain insights into the leadership structures used, the role of women in community leadership, and the relationship between community development and conservation in this special region. These activities will be coupled with an exploration of the conservancy itself and engagement with the surrounding communities.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this program students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate increased intercultural competence, particularly in areas of intercultural knowledge, verbal and non-verbal communication skills, and cultural respect and empathy
  2. Articulate an understanding of leadership in the Kenyan context as well as the influence this has had on how Kenya as a nation engages with the global community
  3. Develop increased personal self-awareness and awareness of their own cultural identity and leadership styles/characteristics 
  4. Critically reflect on their personal growth and transformation as a result of the international experience
  5. Recognize the competitive value of the knowledge produced in Africa
  6. Demonstrate professional competencies through practical engagement with program partners and in program activities

Contributors

Delphin Mukira

As the Chief Programmes Officer at the Maa Trust, Delphin Mukira coordinates all program activities there.

She holds a BA in Economics and Sociology from Kenyatta University and a Certificate in Project Management from the University of Michigan. She is also skilled in Monitoring and Evaluation with certification from the Kenya Institute of Management and the University of Regis.

Customize Your Program

Our friendly and experienced program consultants will work closely with you to develop your custom faculty-led program from conceptualization to execution. We believe every journey to Africa gives students the opportunity to learn and transform and we pride ourselves on our ability to create unique, sustainable, and truly African transformative learning journeys.


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