‘Solidarity, joy of life and hope’

–

these are the words that best describe my stay in the slums of Nairobi.

But let’s start at the beginning: In February 2025, I lived with a host family in the Soweto slum, in the heart of the Kenyan capital, for three weeks. There, I supported the Soweto Youth Initiative and UNDER Lea’s TRUST in providing children and young people with access to education and creating a safe environment for them.

Vague visions

After graduating from high school last year, I knew that I wanted to volunteer to support an educational project in Africa. I wanted to experience authentic life in a slum, broaden my horizons and ‘do something good.’ However, at the time, I couldn’t imagine what it really meant to not only see poverty, lack of prospects and precarious living conditions on television, but to experience them first-hand.

A warm welcome

I came across the Soweto Youth Initiative via a volunteer platform and got in touch with Bonface, the co-founder of ULT and my future host. A few weeks later, I was already on the plane – on my way to a completely foreign, exciting world.

When I first visited the organisation after arriving, I was warmly welcomed by countless smiling children and the dedicated team. Everyone wanted to give me a hug. I felt instantly at home. Some of the older kids proudly showed me around the computer, craft, and tech rooms – all made possible through donations. I was overwhelmed by the openness and joy of the children and the sense of community.

Unforgettable moments

Already on my second day, I got to support the feeding programme and help other volunteers serve rice and beans to over 400 children who otherwise wouldn’t have had a hot meal.
In the following days, I gained meaningful insights by visiting a local school, a small hospital, and spending time at the organisation itself.
One day especially stayed with me: a teacher was unwell, and I spontaneously stepped in to teach a class of 72 twelve-year-olds.
We spoke about the difference between continents and countries, and I was amazed by how curious and attentive the kids were.
At the end, we sang a German children’s song together – a moment of connection I’ll never forget.