Students of the University of Passau are flipping Kenya: impressions and insights!

Students of the University of Passau are flipping Kenya: impressions and insights!

A remarkable excursion of 19 students from the University of Passau to Kenya in February and March 2023 recently led to an impressive poster exhibition. This exhibition is visible in the connection between the Nikolakloster and the Philosophicum until June 13, 2025. The students document their findings and experiences from the journey, which under the direction of Prof. Dr. Andreas Eberth, supported by Jonas Wagener and Charles Ochieng. The exhibition focuses on reflection and invites you to pause by illuminating the complex realities in Kenya on the one hand and, on the other hand, responds to the expectations of the students.

The posters that the participants themselves design deal with a variety of topics. A central aspect is the area of ​​tension between the expectations of the students and the actual experiences as white people in Africa. Further topics are patriarchal power relationships in Korogocho, the visual language of the Kibera Fashion Week and the change in the fishing village El Molo. Economic geography is also discussed, in particular the rose breeding and tea cultivation in the region.

experiences on site and significant knowledge

In the excursion, the students had the opportunity to visit striking places such as the Lake Turkana Wind Power Station, the largest wind farm in Subsahara Africa, and a tea factory in Kericho. Such significant places were able to gain deeper insights into the challenges of the development process and global inequalities. Community organizations in the Slums of Nairobi were also met, which stimulated the participants to reflect on their self-relationships. An innovative documentation method included holding questions during a bike tour on Lake Naivahase.

Unplanned experiences, such as an overnight stay in a mission station while driving to Lake Turkan, also contribute to the fascination of this excursion. Prof. Dr. Andreas Eberth, who was awarded the Student Council for Good Teaching for his seminar concept, placed great emphasis on the critical examination of the developmental understanding of the Lapset corridor, which was also discussed during a field research week on the island of Lamu.

Future view and other initiatives

The posters will also be presented at the cultural transport at the Geo-Summer Festival on June 24, 2025 at the Geo-Summer Festival. This initiative is part of a larger context that deals with education for sustainable development. The modules are based on the 5 dimensions of the goals for sustainable development and promote both knowledge about the Africa region south of the Sahara and the awareness of global partnerships. The exchange of perspectives is supported by interviews with cultural workers and experts from various African countries.

The documentation of the course is published on Instagram at @Geography Passau, and further information can be found on the website of the Geography Department. The findings from the excursion and the students based on it promote a profound understanding of the complex cultural and social structures of Africa and sensitize the challenges in international cooperation.