Learn4Work Seminar 2009

The Benefits to Southern Students: The SASOL Experience

By: J. Mutinda Munguti

SASOLA registered NGO whose mission is to

empower and support local community structures and skills relevant to sustainable utilization of resources to improve livelihoods

Currently facilitating development within the wider Kitui District, Kenya

Has 9 years experience (since 2002) with The Exchange Programme

Over 300 Dutch students and 200 Kenyan students been involved in 3 month multi-disciplinary internships

The Process of ExchangingSASOL and Edukans-Exchange formulate a

yearly tool box of possible assignmentsEdukans-Exchange select dutch students and

allocate assignments guided by student coaches and sector contact persons

Students prepare proposals and work plansStudents arrange travel requirements

Conti..Students are picked and oriented in Kenya by

SASOLTwinning is done; Kenyan students acts as

guides alsoWork plans are fine-tunned to local situationsField work/ implementation takes placeSASOL arranges supervision and logistics

(transport, housing, security, medical attention)

Twinning:Kenyan students3 Categories:

1. Students from Kitui studying in colleges/universities outside Kitui who require formal placements

2. Unemployed fresh graduates from Kitui willing to practice and gain practical knowledge and life skills

3. Students in schools, colleges and youth polytechics within Kitui District

Benefits One to one knowledge transferCreativity and innovativeness; a prerequsite to

entreprenuershipBreaking of cultural barriers and stereotypesPersonality and interpersonal skills development

relevant for employabilityWider scope of reasoning, perception and dealing

with issuesNetworking; UbuntuGeneration of relevant data to inform

developmentInfrastructure development eg construction of a

sand dam, classroom or sanitation facility

ChallengesGroup dynamicsCultural shockInsecurity and diseasesQuality control

Key stakeholdersStudentsSchoolsCommunitiesNGOs (SASOL and Edukans Exchange)

Group workGive 3 main strengths of an exchange

programmeGive 3 main weaknesses of an exchange

programmepropose 3 recommendations to improve the

process