Press release
Launch of the first Regional Chapter Kenya
On Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, the Initial Meeting for the first Regional Chapter Kenya was held. 35 motivated alumni and interested people attended the event. A great start for the first Regional Chapter in Kenya.
Regional chapters are self-organized
regional associations of Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM scholarship holders and
alumni. The volunteer members of the chapters have the opportunity to
participate in activities, make new interesting contacts, and discover exciting
places and experience exciting stories together. Although there is a
coordinator, the chapter lives from the activities and ideas of all members.
The long cooperation between Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
and Pwani University Kilifi (Kenya) and the Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM for
University Students - BWS plus project ADDI, which ended successfully in
2021, and the current project VIEL have already produced many alumni. Now it
was time to start a Regional Chapter, the first in Kenya, and connect alumni
with each other. Victoria Mutune, a scholarship holder from the current project
VIEL, has enthusiastically and highly motivated agreed to take over the
coordination of the Regional Chapter Kenya.
On Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, the first Regional Chapter Meeting took place starting at 5 pm. The organizing team, consisting of the VIEL project members from Germany and Kenya, had invited the alumni and interested people, who have already been in contact with the projects, to the first meeting in the Mnarani Beach Club. After a small refreshment with tea and cake, the Regional Chapter was officially opened. Prof. Sissi Closs (VIEL project manager) welcomed the more than 30 participants and presented the Baden-Württemberg Foundation. Belinda Oechsler gave a short review about the successful projects of the university cooperation. This was followed by a round of introductions of the participants, mentioning through which projects or actions they had come into contact with the foundation.
After the introduction, the project coordinator Victoria Mutune took over the
moderation. Following her presentation of proposals for future actions, a
lively discussion developed about how often the chapter meetings should take
place, what the main goals are, and how the organization could proceed.
Fortunately, many engaged people were found who wanted to support Victoria
Mutune in the coordination. Nobody had expected such a great willingness to
take on an honorary position in the Regional Chapter. Pamela Mwangi (scholarship holder in the
current VIEL project) was appointed as secretary and a committee for event
organization and public relations was set up.
After brainstorming about planned actions, the successful meeting ended after
about 2 hours. From now on, the Regional Chapter Kenya will meet every second month.
The next meeting is planned for the beginning of November. Since not all of
those invited were able to attend the first event, the organizers are expecting
more members at the next meetings.
"The first meeting went really well. It was great to see how many participated. Everyone is excited about this new initiative and we all can't wait to see what the future holds," Regional Chapter Coordinator Victoria Mutune reflected.
Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM
The Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM supports the international exchange of students and vocationally qualified people. Since 2001, it has enabled more than 28,000 young people from Baden-Württemberg to gain experience abroad and allowed scholarship holders from other countries to visit Baden-Württemberg. Approximately 1,500 young people receive a Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM each year.
Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM for University Students – BWS plus
With the Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM for University Students – BWS plus, the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung supports joint projects between universities from Baden-Württemberg and their international partners. The programme is endowed with approximately 1.2 million euros annually. Since 2011, more than 130 BWS plus projects have been supported at universities in Baden-Württemberg.
The Baden-Württemberg Stiftung
advocates a vital Baden-Württemberg with a high quality of life for all its residents. It helps pave the way for advanced technological progress, high quality education, and a responsible relationship with fellow human beings. The Baden-Württemberg Stiftung is one of the major foundations in Germany. It is the only foundation which exclusively and above party lines invests in the future of the state of Baden-Württemberg – and thus in the future of its citizens.
