The exciting journey to select the new trainees for 2025 began on Wednesday, 27.11.2024, when AKI Managing Director Falk Kullen and AKI Project Manager Anastasiia Fomina traveled with the trainees of 2024 from Stuttgart to Frankfurt and flew from there to Nairobi. At the airport in Nairobi, the trainees were warmly welcomed by their German teachers - each received a flower as a welcome gift.

On Thursday, the journey continued to Kisumu. There, the program included a farm tour at AKI alumnus Jacob Dickens Odin. Jacob is the founder of Eben Foundation Africa (EFA), a Christian charity organization that works to strengthen communities through organic farming, educational initiatives and social projects. With its focus on sustainability and social support, the organization brings hope and change to Kisumu and its surrounding area.

The next stop was the Bukura Agricultural College (BAC) in Kakamega County, where the candidates of the class of 2025 were welcomed by the AKI team. 70 students applied for a place in the traineeship program 2025. They were given tasks relating to typical operational challenges to give them an initial insight into the requirements of the program.

The following days were characterized by intensive selection interviews in which the candidates demonstrated their skills, motivation and solutions. On Sunday, 50 candidates were finally selected in a final discussion with the BAC.  Immediately afterwards, the candidates were announced their decisions and the trainees for 2025 were officially named.

The trip ended with a fond farewell from BAC and the return to Germany from Nairobi. The process was not only an opportunity to find committed students for the year 2025, but also an exchange that underscored the values and goals of the AKI program in collaboration with the BAC.