Come on a study trip to Kenya

Join us for an immersive experience into the diverse Kenyan culture. We will explore Nairobi’s vibrant art scene, enjoy the Kenyan hospitality in rural villages and engage in rescue projects working to better the lives of children in the slums.

Elever besøger drengehjem og bliver budt velkommen med high fives, studierejse til Kenya hos Silkeborg Højskole

Getting close with the people of Kenya

Having travelled to Kenya numerous times over the years Silkeborg Højskole have built close relationships with local guides in both the metropolis of Nairobi, the slum town of Kibera and the artists’ village of Ngecha. These wonderful people will lead us safely into the heart and soul of Kenyan culture and lifestyle.

Its vivid, varied and colourful culture makes Kenya a land of contrasts. The income inequality between rich and poor is extreme – yet geographically the lives of people of all income classes intertwine in the big city of Nairobi. This is especially noticeable when you drive from one district with large houses and guards at the gate to one of the many slum areas like Kibera, where hundreds of thousands are squeezed into very few square kilometres with no water og sanitation.

To elever spiller spil med kenyanske drenge, studierejse hos Silkeborg Højskole
Elever besøger drengehjem i Kenya, studierejse hos Silkeborg Højskole

Project Ndugo Mdogo

Visiting the child rescue project Ndugo Mdogo (Little Brothers) we will gain insight into the social workers’ tireless efforts to help the children out of their harsh living conditions and into school projects. We will also get the opportunity to learn the stories of the children and their struggles.

The children welcome visitors and enjoy both doing activities with us and showing us their home. Despite living in extreme poverty, the children express a zest for life that is inspiring to visitors from more privileged parts of the world.

Lokal kenyansk mand viser kunst frem på studierejse til Kenya, hos Silkeborg Højskole
Kenyansk kunstner viser sin kunst frem i Kenya, studierejse hos Silkeborg Højskole

Kenyan art and life

Nairobi is bursting with creativity from young Kenyan artists, dancers and musicians. We join this creative hub of young individuals in workshops or a common project while getting to learn more about life in Nairobi.

Elever udforsker naturen i Kenya, studierejse på Silkeborg Højskole
Galde elever på vej mod slum i bus i Kenya, studierejse hos Silkeborg Højskole

Visiting the homes of hospitable Kenyans

Getting close to the people of Kenya is a priority for us. Silkeborg Højskole students have previously visited farmers and artists on small country estates, where the family’s only cow grazes and where water is fetched from a dug well. The families prepare food for us, and we hear about the ups and downs of life in a village community.

In the town Iten we will seek out some of the many hopeful young runners who see the sport as a way out of poverty. Working hard to train themselves well enough to be spotted by international talent scouts, it is the only chance for many to get out of the slums. “If all Kenyans were rich, no Kenyans would run”, they say in Kenya – so what do they dream of and what conditions are they living under? We will get closer to understanding their reality through conversation, play and sport.

Elever på safaritur i jeep i Kenya, studierejse hos Silkeborg Højskole
Safari i Kenya, studierejse hos Silkeborg Højskole

Kenyan wildlife

The animals were there long before Nairobi and other big cities emerged. The Kenyans are rightly very proud of their unique wildlife, and in the large national parks they care to preserve the animals’ freedom and safety. We end our journey by experiencing the beautiful landscape and magnificent wildlife on a two-day safari in one of the country’s national parks, where we may spot elephants, giraffes, hippos and perhaps even a leopard or a rhinoceros if we’re lucky.

The best thing about traveling with Silkeborg Højskole was that you got to experience things you normally wouldn’t, since the school has a strong network of local contacts. On my trip to Kenya, we met street artists who portrayed life and their upbringing in the slums of Nairobi. I’ll never forget that encounter with those young street artists.

Mads Emil

Student Spring 2024

Kenya was a crazy experience on so many levels – nature, art, living conditions that are so dramatically different from our own. It was a life-affirming and eye-opening journey that made me very humble facing all the differences that exist in the world.

Albert

Student Spring 2025

The trip to Kenya was full of contrasts, art, and culture. We had the chance to connect closely with local people, and it was clear that the school has strong relationships with its partners in Kenya. Thanks to those connections, we gained a much deeper insight into the country than we ever could have on our own. It was a truly unique journey. One that simply wouldn't have been possible without the school's trusted local network.

Mille

Student Spring 2026

Take me with you!

Sign up for a semester at Silkeborg Højskole

Elever bygger LEGO med børn på kenyansk børnehjem, studierejse hos Silkeborg Højskole
To elever besgøer børnehjem i Kenya og holder smilende børnene, studierejse hos Silkeborg Højskole
Elever besøger børnehjem i Kenya, studierejse hos Silkeborg Højskole
Elever på safari Kenya, studierejse hos Silkeborg Højskole
Elever besøger kunsterkollektiv i Kenya, studierejse hos Silkeborg Højskole
Elever besøger slum i Kenya, studierejse hos Silkeborg Højskole
Elever hjælper til på børnehjem, studierejse til Kenya med Silkeborg Højskole
Elever på safari i Kenya, studierejse hos Silkeborg Højskole

Travel dates

Spring 2027: 09 to 18 March.

Traveling teachers

  • Carla Maria Bøg Gadegard

    Teacher

  • Jonas Borsøe Christensen

    Teacher // Student Counselor