OKSH NEWSLETTER
Issue 1
OKSH
Newsletter
Volume 13 Issue 1 BEYOND BORDERS
Solid structures Over the past 3 months, 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. As you are about to read, we have set up different legal structures which will make it easier for us to pursue our goals. We are also in the process of defining and passing fundamental internal structures within the organisation which will allow a more productive working environment for the executive board and members.
Sydney Odhiambo Chairman OKSH
Pamoja: 50 yrs of Independence The event series, PAMOJA 50 years of Kenyan independence aims to, in a larger sense, acknowledge, analyze and reflect on Kenya’s independence over the last 50 years.
Page 3 Picture: Tutor International
Dear readers, 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.
I wish you a good read and all the best as you start int0 the winter semester.
Picture: Tutor International
Foreword
IN THIS ISSUE
Intercultural evening Making new students feel welcome and sharing with them part of your own culture.
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Kimathi cup 2013 OKSH football team took part again in this th year’s Kimathi cup in Cologne on the 17 of August 2013. The fun filled event was a great highlight during the summer break. Our young team played fair and with great determination. Here is an excerpt from the report of the assistant captain Ivan Kibet:
“After 24hrs since #Teamoksh left for Köln, the entourage has just arrived back home, as proud 2nd runners up(number 3) in the Kimathi Cup. The team played bravely but lost the semi final match to the eventual cup winners "Homegrown Essen" on postmatch penalties, after a 2-2 draw after normal time. The team was flanked by a record number of fans and cheerleaders. And for these and more, including the eventful journey back home we are thankful. Very thankful to all stakeholders that
made the event successful in one way or the other. “ Special thanks We would like to acknowledge and thank the F örderverein Maasai Hilfe e.V for sponsoring us with a ball which assisted our team during our preparations for the competition.
COME TAKE PART Join us for our next sports activity. Apart from football, we also have a basketball team that played this year during the Sports and Cultural day at TU Darmstadt. CONTACT
Simon Mburu
Bike Scavenger Hunt
T Team Flowerpower performing task #BSH6 at a childrens playground.
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his year’s bike tour held on the 24 of August 2013 was not like any other we have had before. Unlike in the past where we organised for a short bike trip to specific places and had a picnic there, this year was even better: the organisers Ivan Kibet and Sydney odhiambo came up with an amazing scavenger hunt route through the city of Darmstadt. From a central starting point at Karolinen platz 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 end 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. Special thanks goes to: Maureen Adongo and Vivian Awour for their assistance during the event.
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UPDATES Kenyans around Frankfurt at the Business people and Social Entrepreneurs Forum
Ambassador Osinde meets OKSH The Kenyan Ambassador to Germany H.E. Ken Osinde has confirmed that he will attend OKSH’s Open day on the 30th November 2013 in Frankfurt.
Business people and Social Entrepreneurs Forum th
OKSH welcomes new 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.
FAST FACTS Funding
820 Euros From AStA TU Darmstadt
OKSH Members
9 We welcome our newest member: Katharina Hoffman
ACCOUNT NUMBER
OKSH e.V. Acc/no: 747556 BLZ: 50850150 Sparkasse Darmstadt NON-PROFIT MAKING ORGANISATION Tax Number: 007/250/91519
The event which took place on the 28 of September 2013 was a joint effort of OKSH 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 Maisha e.V. 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 Maisha e.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. Taking an active role The documented discussion and concerns will be presented by a delegation from Hessen to the Ambassador at the Business Forum meeting on Nov. 14th. 2013 in Berlin.
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Upcoming Events Morbi tempus lacinia nisi, vel scelerisque Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur Presentation: Mobile Banking in Kenya nibh facilisis id. Integer urna tortor, ullamcorper viverra non, mollis sed adipiscing elit. Nullam sed luctus tellus. Afrika Aktiv Tag: Marburger Afrikaaliquet Tage 2013 dolor. Etiam sodales consequat nibh, eget Pellentesque in dolor sapien, vitae dictum o 26.October Marburg rhoncus metus convallis et. massa. Aenean vitae lorem dui. Morbi Students fair: ThiNG 2013: Tag der hochschulinterne Gruppen tempus lacinia nisi, vel scelerisque nibh o TU Darmstadt 20th November Phasellus 2013 dignissim nulla at diam fermentum facilisis id. Integer urna tortor, ullamcorper Presentation: in sollicitudin sem condimentum. aliquet viverra non, mollis Immobilien sed dolor. Boom in Nairobi: o ESG Frankfurt 26th November Pellentesque 2013 condimentum diam et sem rhoncus semper sed at libero.)Aenean Donec nuncOKSH’s velit, pretium eu pellentesque Annual General Reunion (In attendance: Kenyan Ambassador condimentum, lorem vel faucibus eget, mollis vel arcu. o ESG Frankfurt 30th November 2013 quam nunc lacinia augue, vel Visit to a childrens home: Weihnachten inpellentesque, Kenia: Suspendisse vel purus nec erat pellentesque ipsum vitae velit. Ut feugiat December (Date to besagittis set by dolor November) commodo. Aliquam tempus aliquam mauris odio ac dolor iaculis consequat. Praesent sed vel dapibus. Nullam at metus erat, in lacus ante. Nullam pretium commodo libero, convallis massa. Aliquam erat volutpat. at congue sapien dignissim a. Cum sociis Praesent ultrices odio in elit fringilla id natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient rutrum mi mattis. montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Vestibulum ante Duis purus eros, aliquam eu cursus tincidunt, ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices feugiat vitae magna. Etiam sodales posuere cubilia Curae; Ut fermentum sem consequat nibh, eget rhoncus metus non metus faucibus blandit. Sed placerat convallis et. Morbi rutrum mollis facilisis. bibendum fermentum. Aenean faucibus
OKSH Newsletter
Imprint Organisation Kenianischer Studierender in Hessen e.V. Karolinenplatz 5 64289 Darmstadt Deutschland Tel: +49 (0)176 3120 4271 Tax Number: 007/ 250/ 91519
Karolinenplatz 5 64289 Darmstadt
Domicile and Court of Registry: Darmstadt, Register No.: 83 081 Authorized Executive Board Members. : Sydney Odhiambo, Mercy Hesmer