08/08/2014
DH Student Felix Göbel supports social project in Africa
From March 28 to April 4, dual mechanical engineering student Felix Göbel participated in a social project being run by the Dual University in Kenya under the leadership of Dr. Fritz. The aim of the project was to provide local support to the people of Timau, and to learn something about Kenyan lifestyle and culture. Felix talks today in an interview about his experiences.
Hello Felix, how did you find out about the trip?
I came across the trip to Kenya by chance at the DHBW [Dual University Baden-Württemberg] and was interested straight away. I went to the next meeting and spoke with Dr. Fritz to glean further information on what the trip would entail and on the sequence of events. And Dr. Fritz encouraged me to take part in the trip. All I needed then was permission from my course leader and my training manager at Voith, which didn't present any problem at all. So very soon, there was nothing to stop me going.
What was the aim of the trip?
On this trip, students participate in an aid project. The goal is to help the Kenyan people live a better and more independent life. The problem with aid projects, however, is making them sustainable, which is often not guaranteed. The aim of our trip was to learn about and understand Kenyan culture and lifestyle, with a view to developing appropriate approaches and improvements that could be sustained over the long term.
For example, we gained an insight into how children are brought up, what kind of games they play and how the Kenyan school system is structured. I was especially impressed by the sense of duty felt by the older children, who constantly took care of the young ones. We were able to gain an insight into the Kenyan mentality through simple day-to-day situations. Only by doing so can we provide local help to people in a sustainable manner.
What did you expect from the trip?
I wanted to learn about a foreign culture and immerse myself in the adventure without any preconceived ideas. I knew our destination region is extremely rural and would not be so touristy. So I was expecting we would mix a lot with the locals, and this was indeed the case. And as a mechanical engineer, I had a keen interest in how renewable energy sources are used in Kenya. A hydropower station is due to be built there in one or two years' time, and I would love to be involved in the construction process. Kenya still has immense potential in this regard. Hydropower, for example, can also be used to generate electricity in each of the individual villages.
What was your daily routine in Africa?
We got up at 8 o' clock, ate breakfast and then went to either the Kindergarten or the school in the village. Over the first few days, we had a plan as to who would go where, but after the third day we decided spontaneously and split up into groups. In the evening, we returned to our lodge and ate. We lived with an Indian who was a great cook. Often in the evening, we sat together around the camp fire, but turned in quite early since we were all very tired from the day's events. We always walked a long way throughout the day, and the constant heat also made us weary. We didn't have a thermometer, but I would say it was over 30°C every day.
What did you do in Africa? What did you experience?
We started a waste collection campaign, with the hope of encouraging the Kenyans to think about the way they deal with their waste. In Kenya, it's not unusual to throw waste onto the street, and that's exactly how the city looked. We split up into groups and explained to the Kenyan school children how we dispose of waste in Germany, how it can be recycled and how it is used to generate power, for instance. Although the waste we collected was not recycled like it is in Europe, it was at least burned to prevent it contaminating the landscape. Together with the African school children, we planted trees around a fish pond to protect it from the wind and prevent erosion, and also from the sun to prevent it from drying out. And we bought hose pipes and watering cans so that the trees could be watered. We had also collected donations in Germany beforehand. This enabled us to commission a carpenter in Timau to make chairs for the school.
Were you able to help the people through these campaigns?
We hope so. However, it does take a certain amount of time to change people's attitudes and to raise their awareness for taking responsibility for themselves and for their environment. They have to be vigilant about the pollution caused by their waste and also tend the trees themselves.
How are Kenyans different from we Germans?
It is very easy to see that the two mentalities are completely different. Kenyans don't have the same understanding of ownership and possession as we do, for example. Dr. Fritz just happened to leave his hat somewhere and one of the Kenyans found it. When Dr. Fritz approached him, he didn't understand why he was supposed to give it back. As far as he was concerned, he had found the hat and so he should have been allowed to keep it. So it is very difficult to translate the concept of ownership into a Kenyan language, since we perceive it differently to the Kenyans. Personally, I was very impressed at just how satisfied these people are with the little they have, and how they share everything they do have between one another. They have a very strong sense of community, but what they often lack, unlike ourselves, is efficiency.
What was the highlight of your trip?
The highlight of my trip was the two-day safari in a National Park. We drove through the park in a jeep and saw giraffes and other steppe game. I also had great fun playing football with the children, and being able to help was a great feeling.
What impressed you the most overall?
I was surprised at how happy the Kenyans are, given their few possessions and how much one can give to another through their positive attitude. And of course the landscape around Mount Kenya was pretty impressive!
What didn't you like so much, what shocked you?
The poverty there is a huge problem, of course. Almost everything in Kenya is owned by white people, including the large plantations on which the Africans work for the equivalent of 30 euros per month.
Summing up?
I would do it again. It was definitely worth it, and a unique experience that I'm unlikely to repeat. When do you ever get the opportunity to learn about a country and its people at such close quarters, and gain such a fantastic insight into local life? And the happiness you feel from working with the children or the voluntary help you offer is unique. I would recommend this trip to everyone! It exceeded my expectations.
Thank you for the interview!
