Educational Field Trip: Kenya

The Educational Field Trips provide some of the greatest learning experiences of studying abroad! In your courses and travels, you have gained insights about others’ cultures - their history, religion, art, and social systems. You have developed curiosity, empathy, and cultural humility. These insights and skills are refined when you fully immerse yourself in a place like Kenya.

Here are a few preparations:

1. MEDICATIONS and VACCINES (NOVEMBER)

While there are no mandatory immunizations that are required to enter Kenya, out of an abundance of caution we advise all students to:

• Ensure they are fully up-to-date with routine childhood vaccinations: MMR, Varicella (chicken pox), Polio, TDAP, and influenza.

• Secure an antimalarial medication such as Malarone (Atovaquon+Proguanil). Please avoid old school medications such as Mefloquine which have terrible side-affects (night terrors, panic attacks, insomnia). You can secure Malarone by visiting your family doctor or local travel clinic.

• Seriously consider getting the yellow fever vaccine. While there are no reported cases of yellow fever in areas where we will be staying in southwestern Kenya (Limuru and Narok), it is highly recommended for travelers visiting East Africa to discuss this with their doctor.

• Consider a Hepatitis A vaccine and a DTaP-IPV-Hib vaccine (combined diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated polio, and haemophilus B conjugate).

To get the immunizations through the Switzerland Program:

• The Program will arrange the appointment at the local clinic, but you must sign up for an appointment by November 15 (link will be provided in October).

• Bring your immunization card(s) to Switzerland with you - the doctor will want to know your vaccination history.

• This is not covered by the program’s insurance, so you will have pay for these. Check with your private insurance - they might reimburse you.

If you would like to get the immunizations in an alternative way - at a clinic at home or on your own in Switzerland - please click here. We do not recommend these alternatives, because students intend to get the immunizations on their own, do not follow through, and then are panicked as they run out of time.

2. Transformation QUESTIONNAIRE - JANuary 12

All students should complete their Transformation Questionnaire (link will be activated later).

3. ETA FORM - ON JANuary 19

ONE student representative from each château room will apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization for their group to visit Kenya.

A.  Apply online - follow this step-by-step guide (this will cost $32.50 / person) - (link will be activated later).

B. When your authorization is emailed to you, upload it to this folder (link will be activated later).

4. ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FORM - ON JANuary 19

All students should complete their Engagement Opportunities Form (link will be activated later).

5. MEAL selection FORM - on JANuary 19

All students must submit their Meal Selection Form (link will be activated later).

6. ROOMMATe Preference FORM - ON JANuary 19

If you would like to select a roommate during the EFT, please fill out the Roommate Preference Form (link will be activated later).

7. CURRENCY - ANYTIME BEFORE FebRUARY 6, 10 pm

Kenya uses Kenyan Shilling (KES) for its currency. As of January 2025, the exchange rate is 1 CHF = 141 KES.

If you would like to purchase KES in advance of departure, this must be done on the website store before February 6 at 10:00 pm CET (link will be activated later).

8. PACKING

*Temperatures: expect average highs of 80 ̊ F and lows of 60 ̊ F. Consult your weather app for the most up-to-date forecast.

**Clothing: as Kenyan culture is much more culturally conservative with regards to clothing, all students cannot wear exercise clothing (sweats, yoga pants, etc.) or clothing which reveals shoulders, midriff, or legs.