In 2014, I had a six-month internship in Meru, Kenya, as a French teacher. I worked with curious, enthusiastic and learning-loving children who were a source of great energy, inspiration and motivation. In a school environment different from the European one, I learnt to adapt, to communicate more creatively and to value every small step forward for students. A chapter of my life that helped me grow a lot — professionally and, above all, humanly. An experience still etched in my mind many years later and would recommend to everyone!

My Africa – Meru, Kenya (January – June 2014). I still remember the intense smell of the air in Meru, the contrast between the red soil and the dusty green of the plantations surrounding the city. It was January 2014 when I arrived in Kenya, ready to live six months that would forever change the way I see the world and teaching. At the San Vincenzo International Education Centre (SAVIEC) I started my experience as an Italian language teacher to foreign students. Despite the profound differences and initial challenges, each lesson was also a cultural exchange: as I taught the nuances of the Italian language, the students opened me up to the richness of their culture and their vision of the future. At the same time, I contributed in some promotion and marketing activities to sponsor the school in public places: markets, schools, churches. The aim was to raise awareness on the importance of language learning as a bridge to new opportunities. It was an experience that helped me understand how education can really transform lives, even in the most challenging of contexts. In April, I also had the opportunity to collaborate with Kaaga Primary School where we held a Holiday Camp. There I worked with children and teenagers, engaging in educational and recreational activities. It was a lively environment, full of smiles and curiosity: all it took was a game, a new word, a story, to create an authentic bond. When I left Meru in June, I felt like I was taking more with me than I had given. Africa had taught me the patience, adaptability, and value of diversity. As an experience, it made a dream I had been pursuing since I was a teenager more concrete and authentic, feeding it with the consciousness and a baggage of knowledge that I would bring with me on my future journey as a teacher, but above all as a human being.

My experience as a teacher was highly formative. I got involved in a totally different environment, met girls and boys with the same ideals and worldview as me, and I had a hands-on experience in a fascinating culture. I engaged in teaching children through fun activities, we learnt the most common verbs, numbers and colours through games, and we did a year-end show singing and dancing Italian songs. Travelling between Meru and Nkubu on the “matatus” made my experience as a commuter teacher even more so interesting.

“The world as a Classroom: The vision that took Marta beyond classroom desks...” Years ago, when our daughter Marta was in her fourth year at Liceo Copernico, we made a decision that went beyond her academic performance: to offer her extra-curricular experience that was a true investment in her as a human being. We were not looking for a conventional trip, but for moments of deep rupture and growth. That’s why we chose highly significant opportunities for her. These include the cultural trip “A Train to Auschwitz” and the cultural immersion experience attending a high school in Africa, the “Trip to Kenya”. We had two goals: a cognitive and emotional enrichment that was significant both in terms of knowledge and in terms of personal growth. We pursued the direct encounter with “history” and distant socio-cultural experience as a way to open up to others and the world at large: personal transformation through cultural “contamination”. We believe that the trip to Kenya helped Marta to open up new mental and cultural horizons. We wanted to instill in her the ability to see the world from a different perspective, stepping outside her comfort zone. Today, we believe that this opportunity helped to forge the confident, independent, conscious and sensitive young woman she has become. A woman who has been living abroad for four years, strong in the attitude of openness and trust that only trips of this kind can give.   

The trip I made in 2013, in my fourth year in high school, to Kenya with Hillary’s organisation in collaboration with Liceo Copernico, was without a doubt one of the most significant and enriching experiences of my life. The beauty of the landscape, the multitude of new things to learn and the ability to get in touch with a culture so distant from mine helped me open up to the world and increased my curiosity toward the unknown. An approach that still guides me today and helped a lot in my growth as a human being. Besides particularly appreciating the opportunity to attend a local school, among the most precious memories are also the days spent as guests in the families of the local schoolgirls. It was an authentic experience that allowed me to get to know the local culture even more closely and helped me overcome many difficulties with English, which was an obstacle for me at the time. Years later, I still consider that trip a crucial stage in my personal journey and a memory that I cherish with great gratitude. Still etched in my mind, the beauty of those landscapes and the warmth of the people I met is difficult to describe in words. Marta Treccani, currently an animation designer, Vancouver, Canada Marta Treccani, oggi disegnatrice animazioni, Vancouver, Canada

I was lucky enough to spend time in Meru twice, in 2017 and 2019. These experiences left a profound mark on me: they allowed me to meet extraordinary people, with whom I have built bonds that I still harbour in my heart and whom I consider to be true friends today. Living in such a different everyday life, I realised how easy it is to take for granted knowing the world, as opposed to listening and observing before judging. I learnt that beyond cultural differences there are shared stories, dreams and values, and that dialogue and friendship can build bridges that transcend geographical distances and prejudices. In Meru, I learnt that exchange is never a one-way traffic: every encounter is an opportunity to grow, discover new prospects and question one’s own certainties.

As a parent I have always believed in the utility, but above all in the importance for my children to live cultural exchange experiences. Tackling environments other than those where our children grew up gives them the opportunity to learn things that they could not otherwise get exposed to and that the environment in which we live has failed to teach them. This experience in Kenya allowed my son to peek into a culture more than 8000 Km from his place of birth, and I am sure it enabled him to tackle new situations, emotions, feelings. Obviously, there have been minor challenges and obstacles that, too, have contributed to the training of the young man he has grown to be. Reflection and dialogue are the tools that helped him live this experience to the fullest and bring back home something worth talking about, but above all to carry in his baggage for the rest of his life. It was an experience that I would like him to live again and which encouraged me urge him to engage in more.  di Mirko Bonetti

It was one of my first experiences of cultural exchange and volunteering; as such, I didn’t have any expectations and that was the best part of the trip. As a matter of fact, during our stay, every situation, every moment was new and a chance to enrich my life baggage. From our arrival to our departure, the key word was hospitality. This helped my trip companions and I to interact and connect with people, from the youngest to the adults. By exchanging words, sharing spaces and time, we had a chance to observe, understand and learn values and notions that we would hardly have learnt elsewhere, starting with the different way of life from which we can learn a lot, all the way to deeper questions that most often remain etched in our memories. “Adaptation” is another key word, for this as for any other journey; as you approach a different culture, it is essential to adapt, and thus venture into uncharted territories and test your abilities and weaknesses, stepping out of your comfort zone. The result is a journey of self-discovery, which, besides being extremely fascinating and enriching, can be useful in everyday life, in interpersonal interactions and tackling obstacles … As far as my experience is concerned, I do not have any negative remarks, because I learnt to turn challenges into moments of self-assessment, from which I learnt a lot!

We express our deep gratitude for a study trip to Kenya that you organised in collaboration with Liceo Copernico, in which our daughter participated during her high school career. For her it was a unique, intense and deeply transformative experience. Back from that trip, we found a girl grown not only culturally, but also and above all as a human being. She acquired a new awareness of the world around her, a greater openness of mind, and a sense of responsibility that she could hardly have acquired in other contexts. Direct contact with a culture so distant from ours, having a first-hand experience on challenges experienced by local communities on daily basis, and the opportunity to step out of her “comfort zone” was a giant leap in her growth and learning curve. She returned with enthusiastic tales of the warmth of the people she met, the challenges faced with her travel-mates, and the authentic beauty she discovered in those places. As parents, we can only thank the people who made this possible. We firmly believe that such experiences are fundamental to a teenager’s education: they not only enrich the cultural background but also help to build citizens who are more attentive, aware and supportive. We very much hope for the revival of the project, so that other students can reap the benefits of this experience. We are sure that, as happened with our daughter, other boys and girls can also draw a profound enrichment that will accompany them throughout their lives. Thank you for your commitment and dedication. We wish you all the best in this endeavour.

For me, this was a very intense and formative experience. My time in Kenya enriched me greatly, both personally and professionally. Besides opening my mind, helping me to adapt to very different contexts, it also had a real impact on my career path. As an experience, it also greatly boosts the curriculum: it demonstrates flexibility, initiative and the ability to work in international contexts.

As parents we lived with great interest and satisfaction the experience of the study trip to Kenya. Compared to a traditional study trip, to us it seemed a much more complete and enriching experience. Besides improving English through daily lessons and contact with a new environment, it was also a true experience of personal growth. We also greatly appreciated the presence of accompanying teachers, who ensured a secure and structured organisation, and this helped in making a new and unusual experience for us parents more serene. Generally, we believe that this was a valuable and highly educational opportunity, both for improving her language proficiency and for her personal development.

During high school, I took part in a one-month study trip to Kenya, an educational and very significant experience. Most of the time was devoted to school, where we attended lessons in English: a great opportunity to improve the language through study and daily communication. We also spent a week as guests of local families, getting a first-hand experience of their culture and habits, which enabled us to better understand the value of welcoming and sharing experiences. Another important part of the trip was the safari: wonderful landscapes, unspoiled nature and extraordinary animals that made the experience memorable. We also visited a slum, a hard and touching reality, which made me think a lot about the living conditions of so many people and how lucky we are to be born in another place. It was a journey that combined study, personal growth and discovery, leaving me with indelible memories, from which I learnt a lot.

As a parent, I would like to share my experience on the study trip that took my daughter Giada to Kenya for a month for a project organised by Mr. Hillary. The decision to involve her was not an easy one: on the one hand, there was understandable concern about the distance and length of stay, and on the other hand, the awareness that such an opportunity could be a valuable educational and personal enrichment. During her stay, I realised how important it was to instil confidence in herself and to leave her the space to test herself in a new context, in contact with a culture different from ours, with everyday chores, rhythm of life and experience that she could hardly have known while staying at home. I can confirm that experience was hugely impactful right from her return. I noticed in her greater independence, cultural openness and awareness. The stories of the activities, the people and the challenges they faced demonstrate how much this journey has been educational, both in human and educational terms. I would therefore like to thank the organisers for the commitment and seriousness with which this project was built and implemented. I am sure that experiences of this kind are of great value both from an academic and personal growth standpoint. I would be glad if this opportunity was offered to other youths in future.

In 2013 I had the opportunity to go on a one-month trip to Kenya together with other agemates, through an extra-school project organised by Hillary and some teachers of Liceo Copernico.It was my first trip alone, so far away and for so long: an experience that I remember with joy, even many years later. . Despite the initial fears and concerns, this trip turned out to be one of the most formative experiences of my life.We had the opportunity to spend time in a local school, , attending their classes in english alongside Kenyan youths like us. It was amazing to be able to learn from them, discover their everyday life and at the same time improve our language proficiency in a natural way. We then spent four days in with families of our new schoolmates,, , sharing moments of play, study and home life. We also went on beautiful safari, a memorable experience in which, we enjoyed breathtaking landscapes and the unique thrill of observing the animals in their natural habitat. This experience was a great learning experience which contributed to making me an independent person, leaving memories and emotions that I still carry in my heart to date. This also thanks to the bond created with fellow travellers, with whom I shared adventures, great moments of laughter and mutual support. I recommend a similar experience to everyone: not only for the destination, but also as a real opportunity for personal growth and relationships that enrich mind and heart.

The experience in Kenya has been fundamental in defining my way of thinking and approaching reality, basically in building the person I am today. Coming into contact with a reality so different from ours, without any comfort, allowed me to open my eyes to the fundamental needs of our existence. It made me realise that all men are equal, beyond the sociocultural substrate and geographical origin. In a country that is building more and more walls around itself, I strongly recommend this experience to the youth, in order to break down these borders, considering the others without any prejudice whatsoever. A special thanks to Via Etica and Gruppo Cimpunda for cultivating these values over time and for allowing so many young women and men like me to live this experience.

Although a little concerned, when Laura left to go to Kenya we were exited for her and knew she would come back different person. As a matter of fact, when she returned her English was more fluent. However, the most noticeable thing was the sparkle in her eyes. She was more mature and enriched by the encounter with such a distant and precious culture.

I was 17 when I lived for about one month in Kenya for a cultural exchange. There I learned to communicate in English, but above all I opened my eyes to an environment entirely different from mine. It was an experience that helped a lot in my personal growth, teaching me to embrace new cultures and to take on the world with greater maturity.