On May 7, 2025, the long-awaited moment finally arrived: 49 dedicated students from Bukura Agricultural College landed at Frankfurt Airport after a long journey from Kenya. They were warmly welcomed by AKI staff members Verena Jauß and Olena Kalinina. Over the next six months, the interns will gain valuable hands-on experience on farms across Germany.

From Frankfurt, the group travelled to the Haus Bittenhalde conference center in Meßstetten, located in the tranquil surroundings of the Swabian Alb. The scenic venue provided an ideal setting for the multi-day introductory seminar. After a refreshing snack, icebreaker games at the outdoor grill area helped the group get moving, have fun, and form first friendships.

Before dinner, the participants received their welcome folders, reviewed important documents together, and had the opportunity to ask initial questions. The evening concluded with informal group activities – a perfect way to build camaraderie in a relaxed atmosphere.

The second seminar day began with a lively exchange on expectations, personal goals, and first impressions. This was followed by practical information sessions on the internship schedule, maintaining a journal as well as legal and organizational matters. A key focus of the seminar was intercultural understanding. The interns reflected on cultural similarities and differences in daily life and work – an essential preparation for living with host families and working on German farms. Between the seminar sessions, walks, team-building exercises, and sports offered breaks and strengthened the group’s sense of community.

The third day centered on occupational safety. Bernd Seimel, a safety specialist from the Social Insurance for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture (SVLFG), explained essential measures for preventing accidents in agricultural settings – a critical foundation for a safe start to the internship.

In the late morning, the official welcome ceremony was held with Mr. Siegfried Schwab, Deputy Chairman of the Board of AKI, and Ms. Tatiana Dettmer, Managing Director. Meanwhile, host families participated in a dedicated seminar to thoroughly prepare them for their role as supervising farms. The seminar concluded with the ceremonial handover of the interns to their host families. After a shared lunch, the young participants set off for their new homes and workplaces across southern Germany – ready to gain in-depth practical experience in diverse areas of German agriculture.

The introductory days combined information, intercultural exchange, hands-on preparation, and group bonding – providing a strong foundation for six months of professional growth, cultural learning, and personal development. We thank all participating guest families for providing this group of young people from Kenia the opportunity to make this experience. AKI  is proud to accompany these young professionals on their journey and wishes all participants and host families a successful, enriching, and inspiring internship experience.