Helen McAvoy, Exchange to Kenya
Myself, and 3 other girls from AIESEC UK went on a traineeship to the Njaaga Orphanage, Kirengaro, Kenya. 
There, we were looking after around 60 children, which involved -playing games, teaching them about the UK, helping out at dinner time,reading with them, arts and crafts etc. We also had to raise funds forthe orphanage, implement nursery activities for under 5s and teaching 1day a week in the local Primary School, for 2 months, July and August2008. I did this because I wanted to challenge myself, personally and culturally. I also wanted to be exposed to AIESEC outside the UK, andstart building my international network. Traveling after my traineeshipwas also a big attraction.
I learnt a lot of things, but amongst them I learnt: how to be adaptiveand flexible (especially in an African country); people don’t work toUK time! Endless interesting cultural differences; that even languagebarriers can’t stop you communicating with people; that you may not beable to change the world, but putting a huge smile on just one child’sface is worth it; that we are rich beyond belief but it’s the littlethings in life that actually make you really happy.
In the UK we have more resources than we know what to do with!
The other AIESEC UK Interns and I also took our own initiative andstarted another project in a local slum buying bags from the slum women,went to a Kenyan wedding, went on safari, twice – Masai Mara and ArushaPark, and drank sheep’s blood! Finally, we went travelling for a montharound Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar.
If I could suggest tips for when you go onto your Exchange Experience abroad they would be:
1) Don’t have high expectations; go in, and remain with an open mind.
2) Have access to more money than you think you’ll need, when you’re outthere you WILL want to travel afterwards!
3) Keep questioning your Host LC until you’re comfortable with theinformation you’ve been given.
Helen McAvoy, President of AIESEC Cardiff and Cardiff University Alumni.