Madison Reporter

Dr. Jeff Galligan, Madison College’s TRIO Program Director, reflected on his undergraduate days when he saw study abroad posters but did not see anyone like himself represented. This summer, he led a group of eight Madison College students to Kenya, many of whom were first-generation or underrepresented in study abroad programs.

The Kenya program marked the college’s first study abroad opportunity to Africa and is part of Madison College’s African Initiative. It was partially funded by a U.S. Department of State IDEAS Grant aimed at bringing study abroad opportunities to traditionally underserved students.

During the two-week program, participants engaged with Kenyan culture through various activities, including trips to local markets. They also collaborated with Friends of Creation, an environmental education program in Kenya.

Milcah Ochieng, ESL instructor and program faculty member, emphasized the importance of such opportunities: “It’s critical for the college to have recognized the importance of providing these opportunities to students who might never have considered study abroad,” she said. “It opened their minds and was a pivotal experience, especially in a global community like the one that we have right now.”

Stephanie Belmas, Director of the Center for International Education (CIE) at Madison College, highlighted the significance of international education: “Now that we are even more globally interconnected, it's incredibly important that our students learn how to engage with others from different backgrounds and cultures. Adaptability and navigating unfamiliarity are skills beneficial throughout our lives from schooling to careers and simply living in a global community,” Belmas said.

The students participated in extensive preparation through CIE before traveling. Tammy Gibbs, CIE Manager, explained that orientation included sessions on travel expectations, Swahili lessons, discussions on Kenyan culture, meetings with mentors who had previously studied abroad, and presentations from counseling staff on dealing with homesickness and identity issues.

While in Kenya, students worked on environmental initiatives and spent time with Kenyan families learning about their culture. They also visited local colleges and partner educational institutions and witnessed the annual great wildebeest migration.

Ochieng described her personal connection to the program as she is originally from Kenya: “The program captured the essence of exploration, learning, and personal growth for all participants. Students experienced not only the beautiful Kenyan landscapes and wildlife but more importantly, the diversity of culture and the warmth of the Kenyan people,” she said.

Galligan noted Kenya's cultural diversity: “Some Kenyans we met didn't have a lot of material wealth but in general they were very warm, generous and courteous to us and are doing a lot of really cool innovative things,” he said.

Students documented their experiences through journals and photographs. Some images will be featured in an exhibit titled "Reflections from Kenya" at Madison College Gallery at Truax.

For more information on Madison College Study Abroad Programs.