Exploring Religion and Culture: The Kraft Global Fellows' Kenyan Experience

Columbia University is home to a community of students from over 150 countries, representing diverse cultures and values.  A distinctive way through which students cultivate an appreciation for diversity within the university and beyond is by participating in the Kraft Global Fellows program. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Kraft Family Fund for Intercultural and Interfaith Awareness and the Office of the University Chaplain. Students apply to the program and are selected as fellows to travel to one of the 11 Global Centers to work on a group research project focusing on the destination country's religions, cultures, and communities. The program's goal is to encourage students of different backgrounds and faiths to learn from and with each other about their identities, even as they learn about religions and cultures outside their familiarity.

To enhance this experience, Columbia Global Centers in Nairobi, in collaboration with the Office of the University Chaplain, designed a one-week program for five Fellows in Nairobi for 2025. The fellows had the valuable opportunity to engage with and learn about the diverse religious practices present in the country. They attended a church service at St. Paul Catholic Parish, met with the Imam at Jamia Mosque, where they participated in Ijumaa prayers, visited the Chabad House of Kenya to gain insight into the Jewish community's contributions in Kenya, interacted with the Rabbi at the Nairobi Hebrew Congregation, and participated in activities at the Makindu Sikh Temple.

The fellows also gained insights into the country's history and current affairs through engaging lectures covering Youth Activism, Neo-Colonialism, Tribalism, Kenya's State of Public health, and Indigenous Religions and Gender Roles at the University of Nairobi, the nation’s oldest university. Hongxiang Huang SIPA'13, founder of China House, spoke to the fellows about the intricate relationship between Chinese culture and its significant influence on Kenya’s economic development. He emphasized the significant impact of China on essential aspects of the country's development, including trade, infrastructure, employment, and the real estate market. This analysis not only illuminated the intricate web of dependencies but also fostered a more profound understanding of the increasingly imbalanced relationships that have emerged between the two nations. They also toured the African Heritage House, which displays traditional African art and architecture, and visited the Nairobi National Museum, which seeks to showcase Kenya's abundant heritage, providing visitors with a comprehensive experience to explore the country's culture for education and leisure.

The fellows had the opportunity to explore the country's environmentally sustainable initiatives, which included enriching excursions to Lake Nakuru and Karura Forest. They visited a greenhouse farming project to learn about hydroponic farming and how to produce fresh, organic farm products to combat lifestyle diseases. The fellows discovered how entrepreneurs are effectively managing the costs associated with starting a business by utilizing the facilities offered by Tengeneza na Somo. This innovative shared production space operates on a pay-per-use model, granting entrepreneurs access to a wide range of equipment that would otherwise be financially out of reach. In addition to state-of-the-art tools, Tengeneza na Somo provides invaluable marketing support and standardized processes, streamlining operations and fostering growth for emerging businesses. To learn about recycling endeavors in Kenya, the fellows visited Ocean Sole - a workshop providing an engaging experience in upcycled art and environmental conservation. Students learned about and participated in the flip-flop recycling process. These experiences demonstrated how these efforts contribute to environmental sustainability and the artistic transformation of waste materials.

Through hands-on experiences and meaningful interactions with diverse communities, the fellows gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of Kenya's culture and religious practices.