Issue 2 #OKSH Newsletter June_December 2013 by Oksh EV

OKSHNEWSLETTER

Issue 2

#OKSH Newsletter

Volume 13 BEYOND BORDERS

Issue 2

IN THIS ISSUE

Foreword Dear readers, This month we mark our 3rd year of existence as an organisation. We can clearly see now how far we have come, the structuresAuthor] we have put in place, the goals we by[Article have achieved, those to come and also the challenges we have faced throughout the years. I give gratitude to all members and friends who have committed their time and strength for the good of the organisation. Your kindness to volunteer into a course greater than yourselves has borne fruit this year because we can be proud of where we are today. Over the years we have strived to achieve our goals that define us and our work as a whole. We have supported prospective students through their decision making, adviced fellow students at different functions and engaged ourselves in the universities and the community around us. Above all this, we have brought together Students who want to be a part of this organisation to assist and learn, share new experience, train and acquire useful skills for their future careers as well as take up responsibilities and work in teams. Solid structures This year, we have made vital steps in defining and strengthening the core of

OKSH. Not only have we reached out to more students or set our feet firm in the universities, we have been able to pass measures that protect the organisation and its members. We have set up different legal structures which will make it easier for us to pursue our goals. We have passed fundamental internal structures within the organisation which will allow a more productive working environment for the board and members. As we come to the end of yet another year, let us take time to reflect about our actions and the influence they had in OKSH. Let us learn from our mistakes and those of our friends to be able to make better decisions next year. Above all, let us keep the fire burning, remain firm to our vision and continue to steer towards our goals. Our potential together will take us far beyond our individual imagination. Finally, I take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year 2014. Sydney Odhiambo, Chairman OKSH

Bike Scavenger Hunt A bike tour with a difference! Through the streets of Darmstadt with no idea where to cycle to next. The participants were engaged in a race against time with more than enough activities before they could find the hidden treasure

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We are OKSH Getting to know more about OKSH through dialogue with its members.

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#OKSHNEWSLETTER | Issue2

What I Study Kenyan students and the diversity of their courses in Germany th

On the 13 of October OKSH called, and they came in their numbers. OKSH had come to the realisation that Kenyan students really did not know what other Kenyans study, we might know their courses, but we did not really understand their passion, or what makes those subjects so interesting for those who study them. With this in mind, OKSH advertised a special Session in Frankfurt, where all attendees would get a chance to introduce their various disciplines to the others. The response was overwhelming! Over 35 kenyan students from as far as Furtwangen attended the meeting held at the Students Hostel Industriehof. Medical engineers, political scientists, Environmental engineers, Economists and Business Information Technologists among others all shared the stage, and described their Passions, Challenges, motivation pieces of advice and Awkward moments. It was very interesting, entertaining even, as the different subjects were vividly described.

Special thanks to Cyrus Robiro and Wycliff Nyariki for their efforts in organising for the event.

The session also offered students in studienkolleg a forum where they could hear from the people who study the subjects they would like to study and also had the opportunity to ask questions and get valuable pieces of advice. From this experience, there definitely will be another "What I study" session soon.

WHAT I STUDY IN GERMANY To give voice to the many Kenyan students in Germany, OKSH is working towards a national project to reach other Kenyan students and share their stories. VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS

Bike Scavenger Hunt The ultimate a bike tour th

Team Flowerpower performng task #BSH6 at a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playground (Top picture)

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bike tour held on the 24 of August 2013 was not like any other we have by[Article Author] had before. Unlike in the past where we organised for a short bike trip to specific places like the Frankfurt airport and had a picnic there, this year was even better: the organisers came up with an amazing scavenger hunt route through the city of Darmstadt. From a central starting point at Karolinenplatz also known as Karo5 (that is the main building of TU Darmstadt), each team comprising of 3-4 students received a set of instructions which involved; following hints, answering questions, performing random acts of kindness, taking pictures while performing certain tasks and collecting samples all hidden along a 25km stretch in Darmstadt leading to the treasure.

Environmental engineers lead! The team Flowerpower, comprising of 4 Environmental Engineering students was the first team to arrive at the finishing point, having successfully gone through all the pit stops, and was able to unlock the treasure thus becoming the winner of the scavenger Hunt. We thank the 6 teams that took part in the hunt and the organizers of the event. We look forward to another amazing Hunt next year! Special thanks goes to: Maureen Adongo and Vivian Awour for their assistance during the event.

#OKSHNEWSLETTER | Issue2

TU Meet and Move Sports and culture at the Campusfest Traditionally OKSHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest fundraising event, the Meet and Move 2013 at the TUDarmstadt was no different. Every year on a nice day in June, the students at the TU down their tools and head to the universities Stadium to stretch their limbs and compete in various sports disciplines. The event is comparable to the legendary "sports days" at Kenyan educational institutions. Many competitions are carried out including swimming, athletics, football, volleyball and badminton. OKSH was represented with a Basketball Team, but was thoroughly engaged by the other teams, who were obviously more prepared, but it was all about the Fun, and that we had!

THiNG We are OKSH OKSH made its Debut this year at TU DarmstadtÂ´s Tag der Hochschulinternen Gruppen. With a small table draped in Maasai fabric and a series of Infographics on various kenyan statistics, OKSH presented itself to the students of the TU, who between lectures ,took time to stroll through the various stands of diverse student Groups. First time with great success For us, and being the first time, it was a successful day, with various people showing interest in our work and our presence as the only international student group at the event. Members, clad in the freshly printed OKSH brand T shirts explained our activities to interested parties and often digressed to discussions provoked by the infographics we had on our stand. A question often led to a series of others and many a fruitful discussion resulted from that first query.

OKSH, like in the previous years, also had a sales tent. Various student groups and organisations prepare food and other refreshments for the event and sell them. As of 12PM, the official opening time, a small crowd had gathered infront of our Tent. Word had obviously gone around that the Kenyans have the tastiest food. Attempts to console the crowd were futile, no sooner did the first batch of pilau, coconut-bean stew and chapati wraps arrive than it was sold out. The food sellers frantically called the members who were cooking and advised them to go shopping again! Despite the fact that we had bought double of what we had in 2012, We still had to improvise mid action, and still, we hardly managed to conclusively satisfy the demand. Next year it can only get bigger and better!

#OKSHNEWSLETTER | Issue2

Ugenini Awards At the Afro Gala At 7:15am on Saturday 1st June, OKSH members and friends started their journey to KĂśln for the Afro Gala and Ugenini Award winning ceremony. The journey in the comfortable, air-conditioned and internet fixed bus felt short, as we looked forward to the ceremony organised by Ngao ya jamii. Ngao Ya Jamii e.V. brings diverse groups of people together in a spirit of mutual understanding:with the aim to â&#x20AC;&#x153;protectâ&#x20AC;? the society from negative influences such as discrimination on the basis of ethnic origin, religion or gender.

4 The second part of the event, the awardwinning-ceremony took off in the late afternoon. We were all eyes and ears as the master of ceremony went through the nominees in their respective categories. OKSH was nominated for the social engagement award. Unfortunately we did manage to scoop the award. It did not bring us down, rather, it encouraged us to continue pursuing our goals.

The ceremony came to an end early in the morning after the DJ entertained us with great music.

The Afro Gala and Award winning Ceremony brought together people from different parts of Germany. All dressed up in beautiful African attires. As they say in our country, Kenya, a ceremony is not complete without food, the Buffet offered chapati, samosa, bean stew, meat stew, pilau and kachumbari.

DAAD Preis 2013 goes to Eric Otieno Student of Sociology and Political Science. Eric is currently a tutor at the University and supervises students in groups of 40 for at least two hours a week. He revisits the lecture material with the first year students who in turn ask questions on topics they did not understand as well as work on theories and concepts together which makes learning a lot easier for the new students. He also works closely with the Professors in evaluating exams at the end of the semester.

For his s exceptional intercultural and social engagement at the Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Eric Otieno will be awarded with the DAADpreis 2013.

Contribution in OKSH As an active member in OKSH, he has served as the Vice chairperson for 2 years and is currently involved in the Public Relations committee of the organisation. He has used the organizations platform in many occasions to organise and hold Presentations and discussion at the University in Frankfurt and around Hessen on the major developments back in his home country Kenya. These discussions enlighten the participants on the major milestones Kenya has achieved towards its vision 2030. He recently presented M-pesa, the mobilephone based money transfer and micro financing service which is currently the most

developed mobile payment system in the world. He has also given a talk on the current property boom in Kenya which has seen international companies invest in lavish properties hence great growth in the real estate sector in the country. His all roundedness and passion to engage himself in different activities at his campus and OKSH have made him a deserving winner of this award. The official Award ceremony will take place on the 13th of January 2014. We at OKSH take this opportunity to congratulate Eric and wish him the very best in all his endeavors. DAAD strives to support and recognize the performance of foreign students through scholarships and awards. They focus on the academic, social and political engagement of these students at their various universities. The DAAD award is conferred yearly to students who have shown remarkable social, intercultural or political engagement. The award which includes prize money of 1000 Euros is meant to give a face to the high number of International Students in German universities.

#OKSHNEWSLETTER | Issue2

Presentations around Hessen

From Studienkolleg to the university

The story of M-PESA is known to many of us. With over 10million US Dollars transactions in a day, M-Pesa has become a topic of discussion both nationally and internationally.

Many Kenyan students face challenges adjusting from the structure of Studienkolleg to the University: self-management, registration to modules and exams, creating a timetable that can be followed, integrating themselves in the university and also making the best of their time. With these issues at hand, OKSH organized for a Seminar where Studienkolleg leavers got the chance to meet with Kenyan students from higher semesters. They received information about choosing a course to study, making a timetable, social engagement, scholarships and job opportunities. At the end, the senior students shared their experiences and motivated the first years before they began a new chapter in Campus.

To present and explain this phenomenon to interested groups around Hessen, OKSH shared about this great technology with Students at the FH Frankfurt in co-operation with ESG and also during the Marburger AfriKa Tage 2013 in co-operation with Music Exchange Africa MEA. Eric Otieno engaged the listeners in lively discussions where he explained how the technology works, using brilliant PowerPoint presentations and video clips from TED talks

around Europe.

Project Management How do organisations fund their projects and what are the requirements for such funding? To answer these questions and many more, OKSH invited Promico, to train our members on the fundamental aspects of such grants and sponsorships. The two day workshop centered on definition of goals for projects, researching about possible sponsors, types of sponsorship, writing a proposal and the final book keeping after closure of the project. Details about the BRG Bundesreisegesetzt were also explained. Finally, the members had a chance to put the information in practice through a project of their choice. See Bike scavenger Hunt.

#OKSHNEWSLETTER | Issue2

Project Management Being a student is great! Whether you are studying to be an engineer, computer scientist, mathematician, sociologist or you are interested in business or the fine arts like literature, you will definitely find yourself working in a project in your future career. What better way to prepare than now? What you will learn when working in this team: • • • • •

Organisation, planning and control Team-work and team building Training and career development Developing strategy Communication and presentation skills

The PM team will be responsible for the following tasks: 1.Develop a project management tool and databank for the organisation and will be responsible for the organisation's internal communication. 2. Organise events in the organisation. 3. Together with the PR team, organise training and development workshops/ seminars and case studies for the members each semester. 4. Strengthen the different work groups in the organisation by organising and running team building activities and excursions.

JOIN US FOR 2014 Are you ready to challenge yourself to achieve your highest potential and gain new skills as you work in a dynamic team? Do you want to learn how to be efficient, collaborative and be detail-oriented? Then this is the team for you! Apply now! The PM team will be led by the Secretary General

Public Relations The OKSH Public relations team is currently recruiting! As a member of the PR team within OKSH we are responsible for; 1.

Recruiting, human resource management and human resource development within the Organization i.e. measures to attract potential members whose competencies can and will be useful to the organization. Contacting companies that offer Seminars and workshops and coordinating such events. i.e. finding out which seminars are relevant to members and contacting companies/ organisations about the same. Integrating newcomers into the OKSH team, and advising existing members of the Team i.e. on questions of how they can actively involve themselves in the organization. Taking care of networks and developing strategies for new

networks and thus increasing OKSHs popularity. e.g. Visiting fairs and meeting potential partners and Sponsors Development of OKSH communication strategy and fulfilling OKSH PR goals. e.g. defining target groups and developing advertising material for them.

We expect: • • • You get: •

• • • •

Content management of the website Image/corporate design development Strategy development in one of the most dynamic student organisations in Hessen

A little of your time Commitment Reliability

Experience in strategy development/image design and publicity management A motivated and fulfilling small team to work with

#OKSHNEWSLETTER | Issue2

UPDATES Kenyans around Frankfurt at the Business people and Social Entrepreneurs Forum

OKSH and international students During the Intercultural evening with first year students at the TU Darmstadt, OKSH welcomed the international students with Chai and Mandazi. The event organized by AStA TU Darmstadt provided a platform for international student organisations to introduce themselves and their work.

Business people and Social Entrepreneurs Forum th

The event which took place on the 28 of September 2013 was a joint effort of OKSH by[Article Author] and Maisha. Due to the terrorist attack in Westgate Nairobi, H.E Ambassador Ken Osinde was not able to attend the function as earlier planned. His speech was read by Virginia Wangare of Maishae.V.

Annual General Meeting Our first event in January 2014 will be the AGM where the outgoing Board will submit their reports and usher in the incoming Officials. This will also be a strategic meeting, to plan for the years events.

FAST FACTS

93 Number of Kenyan Students in Hessen

20 Number of OKSH members

JOIN US Be part of an exciting, dynamic and socially engaged student organization. Acquire important soft skills as you prepare for your career. Make the most out of your time in Uni!

The day began with the meeting remembering in prayer the victims of the Westgate mall tragedy. A condolence book was also opened during the event. We were welcomed by our moderator for the dayWangare Greiner, who then gave a presentation about Maishae.V. Eric Otieno introduced OKSH and its work.

Searching for Entrepreneurs- Soft Tourism During the meeting, different business people shared about their work and how they started. Margaret Murugi for example, has invested in a home in Nairobi which is being used as a Guest-house at affordable prices. She has called it a ‘House of Peace’ and since its inception, her home is fully booked. This is a good example of soft tourism, as she is also managing to offer a competitive price. Virginia Wangare later held a presentation: Entrepreneurship – The road to a Woman’s empowerment, which was followed by a discussion with the present guests. Why are there no Kenyan shops around as compared to Ghanaians and Nigerians? The answers ranged from lack of similar numbers to the West African groups, the fact that Kenyans are not supportive of each other and that Kenyan products are more

expensive. It was felt that solidarity is needed and that we should have a strategy to have products that could attract the wider population, rather than just national groupings. How can we encourage Kenyans to go successfully into business? Perhaps successful business people can encourage others to do business in Kenya. This may well be Germans and or other foreigners with assets that can be utilized in Kenya. We can promote our country through various national celebrations that can be celebrated in the Diaspora, perhaps another opportunity for soft tourism. So Kenyans in diaspora can go into business with others who may have the capital, while the Kenyan at home has the local knowledge and expertise. What do Kenyans in the Diaspora need to do business in Kenya? We need an office in Kenya for the Diaspora managed by people who have lived in the Diaspora that will make it easy for Kenyans in the Diaspora to get the right advice and not be exploited. A problem for the Diaspora is that most people want to exploit them as they assume that most of those living abroad must have money.

#OKSHNEWSLETTER | Issue2

OKSH Board 2014 Chairman My vision is: 1. To enhance cultural exchange by advancing understanding, appreciation and cooperation between OKSH and the community around it. Living in a foreign country and being further exposed to multicultural coexistence, we as students should utilize the resources in our possession in ambitious initiatives to achieve our organisational goals. 2. To strengthen the values of integrity, collaboration and innovation within OKSH to provide meaningful and high quality experience for our members. 3.To create targeted awareness for prospective Kenyan Students who wish to study in Germany by providing verified information about the available study opportunities in Hessen, applying for a student visa, the admission procedures to universities and universities of applied sciences and general information about settling for studies in Hessen. 4.To provide information to Kenyan Students in Hessen about job opportunities, accommodation, insurance and social needs. Moreover, OKSH should offer all students an opportunity to engage themselves while on campus to develop their intercultural competence skills, explore the opportunities in the organization, acquire soft skills and appreciate the solidarity of members as we all work to complete our studies successfully.

About me: I am a 3rd year student at TU Darmstadt pursuing a degree in Electrical engineering and Information Technology. I have been living in Germany since the summer of 2009. Besides my studies, I work as an online editor at the ZentraleStudienberatung ZSB and Press Center of the TU Darmstadt. I am also a member of the General Students' Committee (AStA) representing International students at the University. During my free time, I enjoy playing basketball, being outdoors with friends, attending events like poetry slams and concerts, visiting the theatre and making chapati.

SYDNEY ODHIAMBO

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STUDENT

Technische Universit채t Darmstadt

#OKSHNEWSLETTER | Issue2

OKSH Board 2014 Vice Chairman Having have served in OKSH first board in the same position I have the necessary administrative cognitive ,strategic and project management skills. I have continued, during my time out of office, to work closely and actively with the organisation. I have for instance been very active in the PR team and continue to work on the content management of our Organisations’ website. I have also been newly awarded the 2013 DAAD prize for outstanding academic scholarship amongst foreign Students at the Goethe University in Frankfurt. I can be described as a motivated, hardworking, persistent and dynamic gentleman. I take my work seriously and consider myself a team player. I believe the sum of my experience as a leader of OKSH, as an active member of OKSH makes it more of a personal project than a job for me; this is not to say that I will not act professionally when representing the organisation, on the contrary. OKSH success is my success and the opposite is true.

My vision

ERIC OTIENO

SOCIOLOGY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENT

Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main

I split my time between my studies and my work at the university. As of WS 2013 I have been working as a teaching assistant for the introduction to sociology course at Frankfurt universities´ Institute of Sociology in the faculty of Social Sciences. I have previously worked as a research assistant for the same professor at the institute. This position comes with great responsibility, as I am in a larger sense responsible for the learning processes of students new to the University, in that sense my role includes being a mentor and leading by example. Reliability and effective time management are an absolute must in my job. This experience , I believe, poises me well for the responsibilities of the Vice chairman of OKSH

In my term I Envison and plan to work on the following  Reach out to members, and increasing their accessibility to the organization  by diversifying the locations of our events  Reaching out to sponsors and acquiring their support  Pushing for accreditation or a similar status at the University of Frankfurt  Making the advantages of being a member of OKSH concrete

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OKSH Board 2014 General Secretary I can describe myself as a happy, selfmotivated, calm and collected, tenacious, hardworking, courageous, principled, goaland team-oriented young woman, who believes that no person is an island and together we can achieve more. My greatest weakness is getting absorbed in one activity and putting other tasks on hold. I am working on a balance.

My profile: I am a mechanical engineering and economics student and I am currently working as a student assistant at the institute of Production, Management and Machine Tools in the faculty of Mechanical engineering.I have learnt to be collaborative by working as a team player with excellent engineers and researchers. I also work as a student assistant in a country-wide project named KIVA at TU Darmstadt. I have been able to gain excellent experience in project management including project analysis,controlling and administrative duties.I have managed to acquire significant leadership andorganisational skills as I have prepared several KIVA workshops.

Due to my proficiency in leadership and organisation further supported by my overall knowledge of project management and my experience in working in a team, I am certain that I can make a significant contribution to the organisation as the Secretary General.

My vision 1. Develop a documentation system of OKSH records to be used by future members. 2. Develop a ‘Project-Management wiki’ that will make it easier for project leaders in OKSH to define objectives and milestones for their projects. 3. Initiate contact and enhance cooperation with various student groups at the university that are actively involved with different development projects in Kenya, e.g. IngenieureohneGrenzen andEnactus ( formerly SIFE).Develop strategies for future partnerships with these groups. 4. Organise training and development workshops/ seminars and courses for the members each semester. 5. Strengthen the different work groups in the organisation through team building activities and excursions.

PHYLIS NDUGIRE

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND ECONOMICS STUDENT

My profile I am a mechanical engineering and economics student and I am currently working as a student assistant at the institute of Production, Management and Machine Tools in the faculty of Mechanical engineering.I have learnt to be collaborative by working as a researchers.

I also work as a student assistant in a country-wide project named KIVA at TU Darmstadt. I have been able to gain excellent experience in project management including project analysis, controlling and administrative duties. I have managed to acquire significant leadership and organisational skills as I have prepared several KIVA workshops.

Technische Universität Darmstadt

#OKSHNEWSLETTER | Issue2

OKSH Board 2014 Treasurer GULF MAGUT

ENVIROMENTAL ENGINEERING STUDENT

Technische Universität Darmstadt

The Finanz- and Rechts (FR) Group is responsible for the running of the Club’s Accounts and constitution matters.

I am Gulf Chepchirchir Magut.22 years old and currently pursuing Environmental Engineering at TU Darmstadt. I am a fun loving person, love nature and travelling. I am always ready to serve once called upon .I support activities which bring out the best out of people, it is important that students get to learns new things that will help build their future. That we get to celebrate and support the talents in us. I support group work because personally, I have achieved much more in a group than I would have alone.“Umojaninguvu“

My vision I envision that given this position in the organisation, it would be a pleasure to see OKSH prosper and broaden its reach. 1. By informing interested students the benefits and advantages of overseas study 2. That students get to know how to encounter the challenges outside our home country both socially and economically 3. That we disseminate information and answer questions cheaply and efficiently to reach the individuals on time 4. That we ensure that kenyans do not encounter culture shock when they come to Germany 5. That we get to implement a policy whereby, every student who comes to Germany has all information required to settle in a particular university or province for a good decision making

Our duties are  To write Budgets  To manage the organization’s finance  Recording and Accounting for the money spent by the organisation  Prepare the annual financial report that is to be presented to the finance office Darmstadt  Update the organisation’s constituition  To revise legal contracts and  To regularly update other OKSH members on the financial status of the organisation We welcome interested OKSH members to join our wonderful working group and help in bringing the Organisation forward. There is so much new things one can learn in this group. You will definitely need these new skills in future!

#OKSHNEWSLETTER | Issue2

Sydney Odhiambo Chairman

Mecy Hesmer Vice Chairlady

Maureen Adongo General Secretary

Gulf Magut Treasurer

Fridah Tumbo

Eric Otieno

Gloria Ngui

Ivan Kibet

Stephene Odhiambo

Katharina Hofmann

Maureen Mwende

Phylis Ndugire

Seline Mboga

Beverlyne Musiega

Simon Mburu

Cyrus Robiro

Fabian Ntabo

Jonathan Manono

Edwin Barasa

#OKSHNEWSLETTER | Issue2