The Amani Institute

You will engage in a problem-solving consulting project with a local organization. The Amani Institute will define a concrete project brief with a Nairobi-based organization, based on the goals, needs and challenges faced by the partner. The students will work in teams on finding solutions, using a social entrepreneurship lens and facilitated through the process by the Amani Institute. This will involve field research, interactions with the key beneficiaries of the organization and local communities, context analysis, interviews, design thinking, and the presentation of final recommendations.

In addition to the experiential learning, all students will also enroll in a course and two workshops taught by The Amani Institute.

Course Title: “The Practice of Social Entrepreneurship”
Description: In order to prevent and resolve conflict, it is essential to address underlying social issues else the solution is superficial at best and can even fuel the conflict if it fails. Social entrepreneurship is a valuable lens through which to address social challenges, as it requires a focus on systemic solutions and innovative approaches. This course will help students understand the role of social entrepreneurship in fostering peaceful societies. Also essential to social entrepreneurship is learning by doing. Thus, throughout the course, students will be walked through the process of envisioning and crafting a solution to a community problem.

Workshop 1: “Working with Youth in Conflict”
Description: In nearly every single conflict zone in the world, youth form the majority of the population and thus are the greatest number affected by conflict. This is especially true in East Africa. However, when it comes to development and conflict assistance programs, very often youth are considered either as passive beneficiaries or as part of the problem. This workshop aims to recognize that young people can be a driving force in conflict prevention; at local, national, and international levels. During the workshop, you will learn how to work for and with young people, valuing them as advisors, colleagues and stakeholders. Central to this workshop is its focus on working with excluded young people, and the importance of building partnerships between key influencers in society such as educational institutions, employers, media, government, and youth.

Workshop 2: “Storytelling for Social Change”
Description: One of the most important skills for future leaders in every walk of life is to understand how to interpret and deploy narrative and storytelling for motivating and leading others (see Daniel Pink, A Whole New Mind). The best leaders throughout history have been adept at using the power of narrative - one of the key ways in which we as humans make sense of the world -to bring people together and rally them to tackle urgent challenges. This hands-on, intensive workshop will show you how they do it and give you several opportunities to practice storytelling in the context of their own work and receive feedback and coaching along the way.

Lead Instructor
The lead instructor for the courses and workshops will be Roshan Paul, who has prior teaching experience at Harvard University and Johns Hopkins School for Advanced and International Studies (SAIS), and has guest-lectured at several other leading universities in the United States and overseas, including George Mason University’s Public Policy program, Georgetown University’s Conflict Resolution MA program, the United Nations University for Peace, the HEC Business School in Paris, and the Amsterdam School for Creative Leadership. He also has over seven years applied experience in social entrepreneurship at a global level. He will be assisted by other experienced Amani Institute staff and a range of guest speakers.

The third element of the program will be an integration of the experiential learning and the professional skill-building components. How do you understand what you are truly learning and doing in the context of your prior course work on your campus and the sum of your experiences in the field? What has shaped your journey so far and who you are becoming? We believe that reflective practice is a core element of learning, and we will build in mechanisms that ensure that you are reflecting while doing. This section of the work will take place before, during and after the field experience, and will include reflective activities such as pre-Kenya and post-Kenya paper submissions, frequent debriefs or journal entries, and so on.

Special Guests and Activities

The Amani Institute will provide and facilitate opportunities to meet with a range of experts to get a deeper understanding of the country, culture and ways it is changing. These meetings will help you learn from local practitioners, be inspired, and thus frame your experiences in the wider context of the Program, enriching your understanding of your role as peace builders and change makers.

Special Seminar

We will also organize a special seminar called Conflict Resolution in Kenya (2007-2013): A Case Study. This multi-day seminar will focus on understanding what has happened in Kenya in the last 6 years and how it is likely to affect the country’s future and role on the global stage going forward. The seminar will feature guest experts, student-led research, and other activities.

Learning Trips

All students will also participate in up to three special visits, either inside or outside Nairobi. These visits could last from 1-3 days and will focus on getting a deeper understanding of social entrepreneurship issues related to conflict or on your own personal growth and development.

Learning Kiswahili

Finally, you will have the option of studying Kiswahili, the most widely spoken language in sub-Saharan Africa. There will be a free Swahili beginners’ course as part of the Orientation and you will then have the option to continue learning the language (at your own expense).

Program Costs

The tuition for the program is $2500 US Dollars.
To receive academic credit from George Mason University (6 credits), the tuition cost is $5150 US Dollars.

This includes:

1. - Pre-arrival preparation meetings (online)

2. - The development, organization and facilitation of the consulting project with a local organization working on issues related to conflict

3. - The social entrepreneurship course and the two workshops

4. - The seminar on Conflict Resolution in Kenya

5. - Opportunities to reflect on personal growth and learning

6. - Intimate interactions with over 10 special guests and role models

7. - All site visits, special activities and learning journeys

8. - All transportation costs associated with the program

9. - Orientation to Nairobi and Kenya

10. - Swahili for Beginners Session

11. - Shared accommodation (w/ single rooms) in modern, furnished apartments, including wi-fi access and security

12. - Effective and professional management of your experience by the staff of the Amani Institute, including advising on local issues and life in Kenya

13. - Ongoing alumni support and network weaving

The cost of the program does not include:

1. - Travel to and from Nairobi

1. - Visa fees

1. - Vaccinations (if any)

1. - Daily food and transport (excluding meals and transport related to the program)

1. - Personal costs