The idea to organise a study trip to Kenya in the name of GIMUN was born in a small group of students. Since the UN has a regional office in Nairobi, we didn’t hesitate in choosing our destination. Furthermore, Kenya had recently adopted a new constitution which includes economic, social and cultural rights for the first time. Beyond the numerous rights that are embodied in this « Bill of Rights » we chose the right to accomodation, because Nairobi is the city with the biggest shanty town in Africa. The seminar which would unite young students from Kenya and Europe would therefore revolve around this subject, which was then divided into 7 minor subjects, for example, « Refugees and the right to Accomodation ». The idea was to engage in intercultural dialogue, enable young people to develop sensitivity towards to a discussed subject and allow them to compare theory with reality in the field.

The next step was recruitment. We started advertising and motivating young people by organising information sessions. We were surprised by the success that our project had earned among the students. From 30 applications, we chose 14 candidates who were studying law and economical sciences.

To give an introduction to human rights and particularely economic, social and cultural law, we organised a preparatory seminar in Geneva. Several specialists in the area of the right to accomodation showed us the different aspects of this right and explained how it is implemented by the UN. 

The European and Kenyan participants met for the first time on the evening of June 20th, when we organised a traditional Kenyan dinner. After having been shy the first few minutes, the participants felt at ease together.

The next day, the seminar was opened with a very encouraging speech : You, the youth of today, are the one who will change tomorrow's world.

The 4 first days of the seminar were dedicated to presentations by representants of various NGOs, the ministry of housing and UN HABITAT. To make the seminar as interesting as possible, Amnesty International, for instance, organised an interactive game in which the participants played the parts of a judge, attorney general and attorney of a community which has been displaced. This game enlighetened students on the situations that homeless families and communities are in. Evening activities, like a reception at the home of the Swiss ambassador in Kenya, Mr Jacques Pitteloud, allowed us to  engage in lively discussions with various actors.

After intensive talk sessions, we took advantage of the weekend to organise an excursion at Lake Naivasha and to visit the city of Nairobi.

The second week was dedicated to the individual workshops, each comprised of 2 Kenyans and 2 Europeans. The 7 groups did individual research by reading academic texts and talking with NGOs to present their results in a final report. We concluded our seminar with talks by the various groups!

The participants of both continents really made this trip an unforgettable experience ! Thank you ! 

       Alicia Giraudel & Jael Tobler,                                                                                             
        Study trip organizers.

Some words from the Secretary General of  KMUN, Joseph Kahinda :

« The experience was great because in addition to learning new things about culture and our country, we met a group of amazing people who I am all honoured to have made aquaintance with. People I hope to keep as friends for the better part of my life. Speaking of friendships and relationships, the study trip was the beginning of a hopefully wonderful relationship between GIMUN and KMUN where we hope to see members of the respective MUNs attend each other's conferences and other activities. »

Several words from a Swiss participant, Mirdin Gnägi :

« 14 European students, 14 Kenyan students, 10 days, six presentations, from the Kenyan ministry of housing to Amnesty International, 7 talks about the right to accomodation in  Kenya ; behind these hard facts lies an incredible experience. When thinking back, it seems incredible that we experienced so many things in only 10 days. Maybe Kenyan time (being at least half an hour late for every appointment) is not just a Kenyan invention but a true slow down in the time of this incredibly diverse country !

When skimming over the highlights of this study trip, diversity can be seen : the misery we saw upon visiting Kibera (the biggest shanty town in East Africa), the multiculturalism provided by the  UN (the office in Nairobi is number three after New York and Geneva), the detours of the Matatu (the small busses and their equipment reminiscent of Java Club in Geneva, while sometimes one can’t even tell it's « equipment »), the exclusive visit to the Swiss ambassador's home, the worry in the traffic jam because President Kibaki wants to take the same road so the all street must be evacuated...even though the national motto of Kenya is "Harambee !" ("Let's work together !").

If it's difficult to refrain from sarcasm on Kenya's politics when reading this motto, this is definitely not the case towards the country’s people. The best example is the Kenyan students, who nearly instantly became our friends. We took a strong liking of these party people from the first time we were in the bus together and we asked them to sing a Kenyan song for us... how impressive !

We wrote presentations on housing rights in Kenya in groups of 4 students, each group comprised of two Kenyans and two Europeans. Thanks to the various passionate presentations from NGOs, etc. during the first week, we had acquired useful knowledge on the situation, which allowed us to finish our reports in spite of several group members being sick. Despite our cultural differences, we went back home with the experience of this work and a deep knowledge of the situation of housing rights in Kenya.

To conclude, on behalf of the group I would like to once again thank Jael and Alicia, not only to have given us the opportunity to closely overview the problem of ousing rights, but also and above all to have chosen those fourteen people and to have built this exceptional group.  We will keep those memories forever!"