Matthias Mengel

Motivation to study physics in Kenya

January 2006

At first I want to explain some parts of my CV that help to clarify my motivation. After I had finished my Civil Service I stayed two months in Cameroon. I made this trip not only for discovering a foreign country but also to check if working in a country like Cameroon would be a perspective to keep in mind and to concentrate on in my studies.

My neighbour in my home town was working as a GTZ (Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit) coordinator in Cameroon. I learned much about his tasks, his working conditions and the challenges he had to face. I noticed that working in Cameroon, if you want to do it responsibly, does not only require expertise but also knowledge of people, intercultural responsibility and creativity.

Briefly, working in a country like Cameroon seemed really exciting and attracting to me. I decided to study Energy and Chemical Engineering and planned to specialise in renewable energies. My plan was to work in the field of renewable energies and development cooperation after my studies. The subject I chose quickly turned out not to fulfil my expectations. So I changed to Physics. Now, much more content concerning the subject, I want to keep a connection to renewable energies and development cooperation which I consider still as a perspective for my future work.

Participating in the Exchange offers the possibility to combine my studies of physics with renewable-energy-related projects and work experience in non governmental organizations. So the Berlin-Nairobi Exchange is a great chance for me to strengthen this connection. I can take on responsibility and I already know much about renewable energies. Consequently, I think I am capable to continue Berlin-Nairobi Exchange projects or help to set up new ones.

Considering the second part of my motivation, I want to comment shortly on the riots in many Islamic countries due to the cartoons in a Danish newspaper. The riots also spread to Kenya. A German journalist was attacked by a furious demonstrator, mistaking him for a Dane. One demonstrator was killed in Nairobi when a peaceful demonstration escalated. The global, sometimes violent response to the caricatures is frightening and irritating to most Europeans. The behaviour of both parties shows that an intercultural dialogue, generally speaking, does not exist. It seems hard for both sides to understand and respect each other's behaviour, reaction and feelings. I am convinced that these kinds of conflicts can be avoided only by understanding and respecting each other's culture. I claim that one precondition is to know something about each other.Achieving this precondition concerning an African country is the second part of my motivation.

I believe that the characteristics of this year will contribute essentially to this aim. Staying there as a student will help me integrating well. I will benefit from sharing daily life with people having a different cultural background as well as Kenyans will do. I'm excited about learning how an African society works and the problems and pleasures people are concerned with. I am looking forward to meet new friends, to face problems I never imagined and to assimilate a little bit of the African vibes. There will be much to learn and many challenges to meet. I hope your choice will give me the possibility to transform the enthusiasm I have now into an enriching year, for me, Kenya and the Berlin Nairobi Exchange.

I would like to stay at the University of Nairobi. The multicultural city including its interesting history attracts me. As a centre of international development organizations Nairobi offers possibilities of work experience besides studying. The presence of other German students implies being able to discuss and manage problems together.