Our steering committee

Helga Graefer

Chair

After studying pedagogy, I worked in various institutions and administrations, always with a focus on education, be it in primary, school or adult education.

After the end of my professional activity, I got to know the association "Bildung fördert Entwicklung" 2 years ago, became a member and joined the team 'schools'. I was happy to receive on one of the Kenyan interns in Trier and, through the contact I have had to this day, I learned a lot about Kenya and the very different educational opportunities there.
Travelling through India and African countries I had already been able to get an idea of this problem.
This motivated me to run for office for the position of chairman, since the previous founder of the association and chairman, Dr. Johannes Michael Nebe, wanted to resign from office.
Together, the entire board will continue to implement the purpose of the association with all their strength and thus positively influence the educational path of many young people in Nairobi.

Isabel Schneider

Vice Chair

I am convinced that a good education is a way to distribute development opportunities more fairly within a society. In our country, school and vocational training are free, which contributes to their importance not always being recognized. Through my volunteer work with this association, I want to help, on a small scale, people who have to finance their own education so they can expand and develop their skills.
About me personally: I am a qualified optician with many years of professional experience and live in Trier with my husband and two children.
I hope to develop a special connection to Kenya and its students through this association.

Jonas Koch

Secretary

Education is the future. Not only in my job as a high school teacher do I try to sensitize young people to other continents, cultures and, above all, the people who live there and their way of life. Africa has been particularly close to my heart since my first excursion to Kenya in 2015.
Since then, I have been intensively involved in comparing the ideas of students in Germany about life in slums with what I myself experienced and, above all, what the people in the slums told me. Especially here in Europe, misconceptions, prejudices and stereotypes of Africa in general, of life in Kenya and especially in poorer areas unfortunately still exist.

Melanie Weicherding

Treasurer

I am deeply impressed by the great and important work that the association does and am very happy to be part of it and to be able to contribute something myself. It is a pleasure to work with such motivated, competent and committed people and to make the world a little bit better in the process.

Dr. Nicolas J. Kraff

Public Relations Officer

During my geography studies, I took part in an excursion to Kenya with Dr. Nebe in 2008 and had the great privilege of getting to know the country and its people. During the eight months I spent in Nairobi afterwards, I was very moved by the living conditions of the people in the slums. This prompted me to take a critical look at the effects of globalization and to conduct scientific research on poverty-stricken neighborhoods worldwide. 

Knowledge of the local situation and education for the people are cornerstones for working on an equal footing and initiating developments with mutual respect, true to the quote by Albert Einstein: "Those who have the privilege of knowing have the duty to act!"

Detlef Kröger

Assessor

I have already gotten to know some countries in Africa while traveling and have been able to make many experiences with the environment and the people. I was also very impressed by the willingness of children and young people to learn, but unfortunately they often lack the financial means and a suitable infrastructure. Access to education opens up new future prospects for people through better job opportunities and higher incomes. I became aware of the association because I was looking for a voluntary activity where I could use my advanced knowledge of office software and I am happy to support the association in the technical organization and administration.

Founder of the association, formerly on the board

Dr. Johannes Michael Nebe

The goal of our association is to give young people in Kenya a decent perspective on life through education, which often remains closed to many of them due to poverty. In doing so, I have been able to experience that without a human touch, financial support alone is not enough to achieve this goal. I would like to continue along this path and do everything in my power to ensure that the young people we support, who are hungry for education, can play an active role in building up their homeland. This is my idea of a concrete development policy that serves the people!