impact edition2
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1 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
AIESEC KENYA NATIONAL
LEADERS (14/15)
BENJAMIN KIHURIA
FROM NEWIE TO TEAM LEADER IN
ONE SWIFT MOTION.
PLUS
SOMETHING FOR THE NEWIES!
Of AIESEC JKUAT, today’s youth, tomorrow’s leaders.
MAY-AUGUST 2014
DO YOU KNOW THE INDIVIDUALS
DRIVING US TO 2015?
2 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
Greetings AIESECers!!!
Curious ones as well, you are welcome to take a peek, only good can come of it, I as-
sure you. Now, looking at the contents of this issue, I saw ’GENERATION 2015’ as a
fitting theme. Must ring a bell for seasoned AIESECers, but I felt it relevant because
2015 is here, and as current AIESEC leaders start to prepare to hang up their caps and
hand over the button, the next guys are going to live Generation 2015...We feature sto-
ries of team leaders and team members and who knows, in the next edition, they may
be introduced as part of the new EB. We also have our 2 month old AIESEC Kenya Na-
tional leaders featured. Real short profiles they are, but they were once upon a time
where we are...which can only mean we can get there too.
Now, this is to be the last editor’s note I write so let me try make it good, in case one
or two people actually venture to read it. This journey is one that is began with fer-
vour. I remember plotting with some of my friends to run for EB which we did, and
made it. Then the job starts and you start to realise you just might have jumped off a
cliff and now you’re dropping like a stone. Then before you hit the ground, you bounce
back up and realise you are bungee jumping! It’s a mix of emotions, fear, adrenaline,
excitement...but the ride does not last forever. When the momentum is done, your
time is up. It is the ride of a lifetime and if you’re lucky you might get another one, but
even if you never do, once is enough. (Please attempt to draw some wisdom from
that.)
My ride is almost over, the momentum is comfortable enough for me to think straight
now and I scold myself for stressing when things were a bit more fast-paced. To those
that come after, I wish I could stress the importance of enjoying the experience from
beginning to end, especially when it gets fast-paced, but I fear this is something one
can only learn by jumping off a cliff. So...whose next?!! :-)
(Lights dim, curtains close, I start to get emotional...)
Keep AIESEC-in!
Kathleen Siminyu,
Vice President(14/15),
Communication and Information Management.
Editor’s Note
3 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
INSIDE THIS ISSUE...
Members’ journies
8-12 Benjamin’s short , full and yet to be completed \
AIESEC story
Meet the AIESEC
KENYA LEADERS
(14/15)
4 President : Simon
5 Communication and Public Relations : Wincate
6 Incoming Professional Internships : Ronny
7 Business Development: Ruthie
14 Incoming Exchange: Lorna
15 Finance : Abner
16 Organisational Development: Wenani
17 Outgoing Exchange: Dennis
Newie’s Corner
13Most commonly used AIESEC acronyms
jkuat.aiesec.or.ke
AIESEC Jomo Kenyatta University of Agri-
culture & Technology
aiesec_jkuat
aiesec_jkuat
4 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
National AIESEC KENYA PRESIDENT
FORMER NATIONAL VP
FINANCE
5 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
National vp - communication and
public relations
FORMER AIESEC JKUAT VP
COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT
6 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
National vp - Professional
internship programmes
FORMER AIESEC JKUAT PRESIDENT
FORMER AIESEC JKUAT VP
PROJECTS
7 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
National VP - BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT
FORMER AIESEC UON VP PROJECTS
(2 consecutive years)
8 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
How does one write a story yet finished? My
journey in AIESEC dates back to October 2013,
when I heard that there was to be a Super MSS
with AIESEC UoN. I had an evasive “friend” who
worked for AIESEC UoN, and I wanted to sur-
prise her. Well needless to say, I never met her.
But that first meeting opened my eyes and ears
to AIESEC, I wanted to know, what kind of or-
ganisation dances during its meetings?
From an early age, I have always taken a back
seat. Having older siblings really didn’t help as
they ensured that most decisions were made
didn’t involve me. I was constantly reminded of
the packing order. Well after joining AIESEC I
joined incoming GCDP under the transition
team from Suzzie to Bryan Bundi. After a couple
Less than a year
old in AIESEC,
iGCDP Team
Leader,
Benjamin Kihuria
tells us his AIESEC
Story thus far.
9 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
of training sessions, I was thrown into the
deep end with my first task to put up ex-
change forms. After successfully putting up
two forms, which I was quite proud of,
there was the waiting game.
The first intern to apply was a Brazilian girl, I
was excited, so I quickly messaged Suzie as
to what to do next . Well…it never quite got
to an interview as she (the Brazilian) never
replied to my email. Not allowing anything
to put me down, I received a number of col-
ourful Chinese applications (some of which
were literally in Chinese), others tried their
best with Swahili phrases like ‘bidii
msichana’ (perhaps they were trying to say
‘hardworking girl’ ) and in the end I finally
matched three Chinese for January 2014.
I was assigned Kayaba School, one of the TN
(trainee nominee) takers we have partnered
with. While taking my interns to work on
their first day, I met with Joan, the headmis-
tress. Well how do I describe Kayaba
School? It’s a school right in the middle of
Mukuru Kayaba slum with very limited
amenities.
They had no food, no clean water yet the
kids were happy. Looking back I have no
idea how they survived as the last intern to
work there left in August 2013. I was a bud-
dy to Long Di who had a surprisingly good
command of English (so said the barber I
took her to). She was down to earth and
attended a couple of lectures with me dur-
ing her free time. It seems Kenyan men are
looking the East as I received quite a num-
10 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
ber of compliments for having “scored” an
Asian. After 7 weeks she went back to her
country and so did quite a number of our
Chinese interns.
After a couple of weeks I made up my
mind to actually help Kayaba School. I sat
down with Joan to see what was needed
and after coming up with a checklist of at
least 6 crucial items I sought the help of
the forthcoming interns to change the di-
lapidated state of Kayaba School. First and
most important was the food situation. I
will forever be indebted to Silvia Galiotto
(Italy) who bought enough food for the
school to last 3 months and took the kids
to Giraffe Centre (one of the few trips
they have in their lifetime), Chutikarn Ma-
nayarnkit (Thailand) who sponsored 2
parents to join a sewing school, spon-
sored another to start a charcoal busi-
ness, painstakingly translated verbs from
Swahili to English just so that her kids
could understand her English classes,
bought stationery and sports equipment.
Angela Mojica (Colombia) who took the kids
to play and taught Science with a million ex-
periments.
Then tragedy struck. Petty thieves armed
with a gun robbed them twice in two weeks.
The first time in Lavington and the second
time inside the slum. At such times, when
you receive such news, your heart stops and
you feel a myriad of emotions from fear, to
hate to pity. Well you have to strategize and
move on if the plan to help the school is to
be fulfilled. With the help of Joan, we put up
a watchman and informed the chief to im-
prove the security situation. They say that
those who live by the sword, die by it. As I
It seems Kenyan men are
looking the East as I received
quite a number of compliments
for having “scored” an Asian.
11 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
write this all of the above perpetrators
either are dead or arrested.
The first trip that I organized for the in-
terns was a Maasai Mara trip which took
off at 8am on Saturday 5th July 2014. The
two vans arrived and took all 11 of us to
the Mara without a hitch. After an even-
ing game drive, we returned back to camp
which was a pretty nice place, the driver
of the first van took his car to be checked.
Back at camp we had food prepared by
our chef and after a couple of drinks, and
a game of charades the atmosphere was
friendlier. By 10pm the lights are switched
off as it runs from a generator. For some
of us Dylan (Scotland) Sydney (USA) and
Dawn (Malta) that couldn’t sleep that ear-
ly we went to watch the stars on a clear
night sky. We had background music from
someone who had a bit too much whis-
key. A couple of shooting stars and hours
later, we retired ready for the next day.
Day 2 was much more eventful, from
reaching the Mara River to witness part of
the migration, to getting a puncture near
a large male lion and the persistent prob-
lem of our van overheating. The Mara is
spectacular with a large variety of game
and picturesque scenery. On the way
back, five of us Alex(USA) Rachel(Hong
Kong) Andreas (Brazil) Dawn (Malta)
stayed behind with the faulty van, enjoy-
ing some rare moments, eventually
spending a night in Narok town as our van
could only go so far without heating up.
My second and most difficult trip yet to
plan was the one to Zanzibar, Tanzania. It
had very many stops and changeovers.
After a 15hr bus ride from Nairobi to Dar
we slept over in Dar and got the 9 am fer-
ry to Zanzibar, which is quite different
from the Likoni ferry in Mombasa, this is
more of a speed vessel. Zanzibar is magi-
cal, from the 4* resort we stayed in to the
tours of the stonetown and spicefarms to
snorkelling and swimming with the dol-
phins in the ocean, white sand beaches,
we were amazed. Sadly our time ran out
and after an 8hr bus ride to Mombasa we
had a 6hr layover and took the 10pm bus
to Nairobi without any hitches. I can’t re-
ally describe Zanzibar as it’s those places
you see on postcards and magical is the
only word I can describe it.
Back to Nairobi and Kayaba School
through Elpida (Greece) got spoons, a
2300lt water tank and stationery. Andreas
(Brazil) paid a hefty outstanding toilet bal-
ance, furnished the school with educa-
Zanzibar is magical, from the 4*
resort we stayed in to the tours
of the stonetown and spicefarms
to snorkelling and swimming
with the dolphins in the ocean,
white sand beaches, we were
amazed.
12 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
tional material and Joao (Portugal) pur-
chased a classroom and furnished it. All
these were part of a masterplan I had come
up with which I hope to fully achieve with
the help of Eliska (Czech Republic) and Ce-
cilia (China) and all other interns that will
join me later on.
I cannot fail to mention Clemens (Germany)
Arnaud (the madly funny French guy who
deserves a separate article to fully describe
him) and Alicja (Poland) who we are work-
ing with at Frank School. The same can be
said for Priscilla (Mexico) a diligent and bril-
liant intern, who served as the project
head, she had immense influence to make
it a success, Emily (USA) Joe (the true defi-
nition of a US patriot) and Yen (Singapore)
who I can’t thank enough.
Through AIESECs Team Leader phase have
grown my leadership skills, critical thinking
capacity, knowing how to make crucial de-
cisions through leading a two teams to-
wards two separate goal of achieving pur-
pose-driven education (Kayaba school) and
a health-aware society (Project Healthy
and Happy phase 1). I came to understand
how people think differently even though
pursuing one goal. I realised how diversity
leads to a more purposeful and fuller pro-
ject. Interacting with people is much easier
for me and taking charge has become sec-
ond nature. I cannot express my gratitude
to both Suzzie and Bryan for the oppor-
tunity and the support they have accorded
me.
There is so much I haven’t written, but
since this is only but the beginning, I will
save the rest for a future article.
Benjamin Kihuria,
Team Leader iGCDP
AIESEC JKUAT
BSc. Biomechanical and Process Engineer-
ing
13 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
For newie’s...
Everything in AIESEC is an acronym, even the name, including all selected and elected positions, conferences, GNs
(growth networks), etc. This is a list of the most common acronyms that are used within AIESEC, including the rough
translation of AIESEC into English. Hope it eases the initiation into AIESEC life for newies!
@: Some may consider this an “AT” sign. It’s not. It’s an “AIESEC” sign.
AI: AIESEC International. Located in Rotterdam. Provides a network
support system for AIESEC on an international level.
AIESEC: (pronounced “eye‐sek”) AIESEC was a French acronym:
Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences
Economiques et Commerciales, or International Association of
Students in Economic and Commercial Sciences. However,
since AIESEC is no longer limited to these opportunities, the
acronym has faded and we now just use AIESEC as a word.
BD: Business Development
CEED: Cultural Envoy for Exchange Development. If you want to get
involved in joining or running a local AIESEC community
internationally, CEEDS provide the way to do it. This is an
equally great way to experience a culture abroad and build
leadership and professional skills, and gain a different perspective
on running an AIESEC community.
Comm and IM: Communication and Information Management
CC: Congress Committee
CCP: Congress Committee President
CCVP: Congress Committee Vice President
EB: The Executive Board. The executive board consists of the VPs, the
LCP and the LCP elect (when applicable)
EP: Exchange Participant. Someone going on a traineeship
ER: External Relations
ICX: Incoming exchange.
LC: The AIESEC Local Community.
LCP: The Local Committee President; oversees the Local Community in
order to make sure everything’s running smoothly
MC: Member Committee (national staff); they are paid AIESEC staff.
Each MC Oversees AIESEC on their national level, provides
support for Local Communities within their MC country, maintains
relationships with other countries, manages national finances, and
builds national partnerships…
MCP: Member Committee President.
OC: Organizing Committee; the committee that takes care of the logistical
aspect of conferences.
OCP: Organizing Committee President; the head of an OC.
OCVP: Organising Committee Vice President
OGX: Outgoing exchange.
PAI: President of AIESEC International.
TN: A Traineeship/internship.
TM: Talent Management
Trainee: International EPs that are on a traineeship in our LC.
14 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
National VP - INCOMING EXCHANGE
FORMER AIESEC UON VP INCOMING EXCHANGE
(2 consecutive years)
15 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
National vp - finance
FORMER AIESEC UON VP
PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAMMES
(2 consecutive years)
16 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
National VP - organisational
development
FORMER AIESEC UON PRESIDENT
( 2 consecutive years)
17 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
National vp - OUTGOING EXCHANGE
FORMER AIESEC DAYSTAR PRESIDENT
FORMER AIESED DAYSTAR VP
OUTGOING EXCHANGE
18 MAY - AUGUST 2014
IMPACT : Generation 2015
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