Karibu! I’m Sophia and I’m spending my weltwärts volunteer service with Play Handball in Kenya from September 2022 to August 2023. I am living with my host family in Machakos, south-east of Nairobi. Today I would like to tell you a little bit about the past two months and my new daily life here.

In the morning I assist in teaching French, English and Maths at an elementary school nearby. Especially in French the children have a lot of fun and want to learn new things very quickly. The lessons and the system are different from those in Germany. There is a lot of frontal teaching and the children learn to read and write from the age of 4 in preprimary school, which means that the level in elementary school is much higher than in Germany.

During the breaks, I play with the children and show them games that I played myself in elementary school. I also get to rehearse a dance with the students, which is performed at the graduation in two weeks.

Once a week, I also help to coach the first three grades in handball. You can quickly see progress in the players, however, the training is also a challenge for me because the kids have never played handball or anything like it, so they don’t have an idea of the game yet.

I also go to a high school twice a week for training. I like the training there the most, because the people here are about my age and I usually play myself. Nevertheless, there are difficulties here as well, because often some students are missing because they have not paid the school fees.

I like the life here in Kenya very much. My host family gave me a friendly welcome and I quickly settled in and made friends. The people are very open and I have had many interesting conversations here, especially about politics and faith. It is a bit more strenuous than at home, because here both the laundry and the dishes are completely washed by hand, but at the same time it is much more relaxed because the Kenyans do not let themselves be stressed. For example, if you have an appointment at 11 o’clock, it is still okay to come at 2 o’clock.

I think the mentality here is great. I also notice in myself that I’m more relaxed and don’t stress out if I’m ever late (by German standards). But my view on myself and my life in Germany has changed as well and I appreciate things like a washing machine or pork schnitzel more.

I’m looking forward to the upcoming months here and hope to inspire even more people for handball!

More in this category: Shaping Futures Through Handball – Pilot Project in Nkubu, Kenya » ‘Lekker game, coach!’ – An unforgettable day of handball in Goedverwacht » From Kenya to Leipzig: Youth Coach Brian attends the International Handball Coaching Course » From the short-term voluntary service at PLAY HANDBALL to COACH ABROAD » Weltwärts with handball: New volunteers as coaches landed in South Africa. » Exciting Highlights from the PLAY HANDBALL Supercup in Nairobi » Holiday Camp in Kenya » Start of Handball and Volunteer Season » Play Handball Supercup in Kenya » Our volunteers Paul, Konrad and Henning in Tansania » PlayHandball at the weltwärts conference in Kigali, Rwanda » Interview with Nicola Scholl, about her project trip to Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya. » Midterm Seminars in Botswana and Kenya » Interview with our team in Botswana » TYCE Holiday Activities » Friendly Tournament at the Observatory Junior School » Sport Day in Utawala, Kenya » Volunteer Arrival and PlayHandball in Botswana » PlayHandball as part of the GloKnoCo Project in Brighton » Martin Bergers handball experience in Africa » Linah tells about her experiences as a participant of the Trilateral Youth Coaches Encounter » Christian tells of his experiences as a volunteer in Lamberts Bay » PlayHandball part of the GloKnoCo School in Brussels » Lisza reports from her experiences as a volunteer in Cape Town » Mid-term seminar with our weltwaerts-volunteers » Martin Berger inspires with handball in Kenya » Simon tells of his experiences as a volunteer in Juja » Lars tells of his experiences as a volunteer in Darling » Kick-off-Weekend of the Trilateral Youth Coaches Exchange » Virtual exchange connects young coaches from Germany, Kenya and South Africa. » Re-launch of the Weltwärts Volunteer Program in Kenya and South Africa. » Community Talk with Mike from Pendo Amani in Juja, Kenya » Handball is growing in Kisumu County – 17 teams at first county tournament in by EmpowerGirlsPlus » A year full of uncertainty, waiting and flexibility instead of experiencing South Africa as a handball volunteer. » Play Handball Corona Aid helps over 1000 people in South Africa and Kenya. » Update PHKE: In every challenge there is always something we can do as a sport for development organisation » Midterm-Seminar and Partner Meeting » Léon reports from his experience as volunteer by our partner organisation Empower Gils Plus in Kisumu, Kenia » Jasper is one of the first volunteers in Kenya and reports from his experience » German Handball Stars are so polite – Kenian Play Handball Coordinator travels to Germany » Hanna reports from her experiences in 2 different communities around Cape Town » Laura tells of her experiences as a volunteer in Cape Town » PendoAmani in Kenya & PLAY HANDBALL initiate Handball After School Program » From Blomberg to the Cape – As volunteer coaches in South Africa » Meet The Volunteer: Sophia experiences township life in Jo’burg » Play Handball Volunteer Programme extends to Kenya » Interview with our Swiss volunteer Daniel Schettler » Supercup inspires over 450 children in Africa » Karibu Kenya! Play Handball Supercup in Kisumu » Handball for UNSDG13 Climate Action – Workshop & Clean-Up » Interview with the volunteer Matti Schubert » Learners embrace new sport » VOLUNTEER INTERVIEW with SIMON UTTKE » PLAY HANDBALL starts in Kenya in 2017 » THE START OF A NEW HANDBALL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM »
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