Each summer, Journalism Professor Judith Walgren leads about 15 students on a study abroad trip to Nairobi, Kenya.

While most study abroad programs set out with the central goal of helping students develop academically, the community-engaged trip to Kenya accomplishes that and more. Students not only develop cultural awareness and learn about sustained dialogue, but also provide aid to Kenyans in informal housing through visual storytelling.

Students hone their skills by partnering with local community organizations such as Kuona and Voice of Dagoretti, which advocate for the community through art. Although the students are only in Nairobi for two weeks in the summer, the work is ongoing, says Walgren, associate director of the MSU School of Journalism.

Students enrolled in the JRN course take charge of photography, social media development, website creation, fundraising, and more during their time in Nairobi. Even after the students return, they continue their work on the aspects of the project for which they are responsible.

Both master’s and undergraduate level students participate in visual storytelling and fundraising for the community partners. The students also put forth significant time and effort helping these organizations establish a social media presence, including the Voices of Dago Facebook page.

In turn, the students gain an opportunity to collaborate with different cultures, specifically those from marginalized backgrounds, and develop community building and leadership skills, Walgren says.

The impact upon students lasts far beyond the two weeks they spend in Nairobi. “Perseverance and resilience are two things that are really important to me, and I like to show that and expose students to those two same characteristics,” says Walgren. “We’ve had a rough couple of years here and people [like those Walgren and her students work with in Kenya] somehow deal with that on a regular basis and still persevere and continue.”

By working with these community-engaged partners in Kenya, Walgren ultimately hopes to decolonize the study abroad experience. The amount of growth that occurs with students during their time in such a beautiful and accepting country continues to motivate Walgren to continue her pursuit of community-engaged work through visual storytelling.

Walgren first got connected to the CCEL five years ago and has credited the CCEL with shifting her work to be more collaborative in nature. Walgren also attends a monthly CCEL writing group and has attended several CCEL workshops to help her with her own community-engaged work.

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Photos by Devin Anderson-Torrez