Victoria Turtiainen and her grandmother, Arja Turtiainen, talking about how she grew up and lived in three different countries.

This interview took place on December 2, 2018, in Fairfax Virginia in Arja Turtiainen’s home. Victoria and Arja Turtiainen discuss how Arja grew up and her different experiences in life. Arja Turtiainen was born in Finland, then moved to Kenya,...

Nick 6/27/23

Kiwimbi International summer interns Claire (21) and Katherine (20) interview Nick (15), the recipient of a Kiwimbi scholarship to secondary school (high school). Nick shares about his childhood being raised by a single mother and grandmother, and his inspiring educational...

Humphrey 6/15/23

Kiwimbi International summer interns Claire (21) and Katherine (20) interview Humphrey (23), the head instructor for Kiwimbi’s carpentry program. He opens up about his educational struggles and his experience as a student and instructor at Kiwimbi. Recorded on June 15th,...

Talk with my aunt Nyawira (part 2)

We talked about life in Kenya. Her struggles, her accomplishments, and her surrounding obstacles.

Thanksgiving Interview with my Kenyan Mama

Interviewing my mom over Thanksgiving holiday on the importance of literacy, education, and languages as a bridge to cultures.

"I grew up in a place where I was the first to go to college – not just in my family, but in the village." An interview with Charles Gatebe.

Dr. Charles Gatebe's research focus is on clouds aerosols, ecosystem structure and function, albedo, and feedbacks to climate. In this interview, we chat about his science journey pursuing science, starting with his interest in studying Kenya’s air pollution, and how...

“It was NOLS that was a turning point”
October 11, 2018 App Interview

Peter Roy talks being prepared for a life in business by his NOLS wilderness course. Years later he was able to send his daughter to a NOLS semester in Kenya, and this was an important turning point for his whole...

Robert Ikedi 6/15/23

Kiwimbi International summer interns Claire (21) and Katherine (20) interview Robert Ikedi (33), a manager at Kiwimbi. Robert discusses the general work that Kiwimbi does and its immense impact on Busia county in Kenya. Recorded on June 15th, 2023.

Johnson Omungá 6/22/23

Kiwimbi International summer interns Claire (21) and Katherine (20) interview Johnson Omungá, an elder in the Teso community—an ethnic group in Kenya. Johnson shares about life in Kenya before and after liberation from the British in the ‘60s, the annual...

Holidays and Life Lessons

I'm interviewing my mom after Christmas 2021, before heading to East Palo Alto, where I'm serving as a Climate Action Corps Fellow.

The Entire Sky on Mount Kenya
October 11, 2018 App Interview

In 1980 Eric Hosek led a group up Mount Kenya. While climbing in the darkness before dawn the expedition could see the sky of both hemispheres. For Eric it was an "ah-ha" moment.

Ivy Imoh 6/22/23

Kiwimbi International summer interns Claire (21) and Katherine (20) interview Ivy (25), the assistant manager and vocational coordinator for Kiwimbi Kenya. Ivy talks about growing up in Uganda, moving to Kenya, and social/cultural differences she’s noticed over the years in...

David Larbi and Judy "Chess" Cheserek

[Recorded Monday, July 17, 2023] David (26) and Chess (34) have a One Small Step Conversation in Charlottesville. David is from Ghana and is a human rights activist advocating for youth empowerment and LGBTQIA+ rights across the African continent. Chess...

Meshack 6/28/23

Kiwimbi International summer interns Claire (21) and Katherine (20) interview Meshack (16), the recipient of a Kiwimbi scholarship for secondary school. Meshack tells us about his struggles through primary school with neighbors who practiced witchcraft and his experience in secondary...

Melissa 6/28/23

Kiwimbi International summer interns Claire (21) and Katherine (20) interview Melissa (15), the recipient of a Kiwimbi scholarship to secondary school. Melissa shares about her childhood swimming and gathering water from the river that runs between Amagoro and Kocholia and...

Florence 6/15/23

Kiwimbi International summer interns Claire (21) and Katherine (20) interview Florence (25), a former student and current assistant instructor at Kiwimbi’s tailoring vocational program. She shares her life story, educational struggles, and work at Kiwimbi. Recorded on 6/15/23.

Zack Akwara 6/23/23

Kiwimbi International summer interns Claire (21) and Katherine (20) interview Zack Akwara, an elder in the Teso community—an ethnic group in Kenya. Zack shares about traditional tools and practices in Teso culture and why it is important to preserve them...

Maureen 6/27/23

Kiwimbi International summer interns Claire (21) and Katherine (20) interview Maureen (17), the recipient of a Kiwimbi scholarship for secondary school (high school). Maureen shares about being raised by absent grandparents and Kiwimbi’s role in getting her to a competitive...

Feeling At Home In America

Dr. Ahluwalia talks about coming to America as a college student, and how she became an American.

Cathy Malalah 6/21/23

Kiwimbi International summer interns Claire (21) and Katherine (20) interview Cathy Malalah, the general manager for Kiwimbi Kenya. Cathy shares her story of moving from Kenya to the US in 1993 and her difficult decision to move back in 2012.

Ruth 6/27/23

Kiwimbi International summer interns Claire (21) and Katherine (20) interview Ruth (16), the recipient of a Kiwimbi scholarship to secondary school (high school). Ruth discusses the difficulties of moving between her grandmother in Uganda and her father in Kenya while...

Immigration Interview

Talked about what the immigration process from Kenya to America was like. And some of the experiences