Minister Peter Hauk MdL: “The AKI internship program with Kenya broadens the horizons of both the host farming families and the interns alike.”

On August 19, 2025, Baden-Württemberg’s Minister of Agriculture, Peter Hauk MdL, learned about the internship program of the association AgrarKontakte International (AKI) e.V. and visited the host family Scheuermann as well as Kenyan agricultural student Samuel Omondi Okoth.

Since May, the 25-year-old from the Bukura Agricultural College (BAC) in Kenya has been spending six months on the Scheuermann family’s farm in Weinheim-Wünschmichelbach as part of the AKI internship program. On the farm, which keeps around 120 dairy cows, Samuel actively lends a hand – whether in the barn, in the fields, or with the care of the animals. “I am learning a lot here about modern agriculture and want to apply this knowledge later in my home country,” emphasized the young intern, who has long been regarded by his hosts as a “fourth child.”

The internship program with Kenya has existed since 2020 and enables dozens of young people each year to complete a six-month internship on farms in southern Germany. For 2025, 49 participants were selected and prepared for their stay through language courses and training. “The program is a win-win situation: the interns gain valuable experience, and the farms receive hands-on support during peak work periods,” explained Minister Hauk.

Hans-Benno Wichert, Chairman of AKI, pointed to the more than 30-year history of the association, which places up to 100 young farmers from various countries for internships in southern Germany every year. In 2025, 49 interns from Kenya and 28 from Ukraine are taking part. The aim is to strengthen young people’s future prospects while at the same time promoting international exchange.

Since 2003, Jens and Stefanie Scheuermann have regularly hosted AKI interns on their farm. Minister Hauk was impressed by the family’s commitment: “We need people like you who embody international understanding in such an outstanding way. This kind of dedication cannot be measured in money.”

Thus, the visit was not only an insight into practical agriculture but also a strong sign of intercultural understanding and the lived partnership between Baden-Württemberg and Kenya.

AKI and BAC plan to further deepen and expand their cooperation. To broaden the internship program with Kenya, the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development in Nairobi has now expressed great interest. The Kenyan Embassy in Berlin increasingly supports this trilateral partnership between AKI, BAC, and the Kenyan ministry.