. I am a Medical student ,year III/VI from the University of Eastern Finland 🇫🇮 Before the Global Health Summer School I had been in touch with the organizer Daniel Mutonga through e-mail regarding my trip to Kenya. So over all I felt quite comftable to jump into a plane and fly to Kenya (after long periods of planning of course). After the 1 week GHSS I was going to spend 4 more weeks in Kenya (3 weeks in Kilifi and 1 week in Kisumu) for a Public Health elective as part of my medical degree’s optional studies. Daniel kept me well informed and up to date regarding the whole programme and he was reguraly cheking up on me if I was doing ok and updating me about the whole programme. To keep the long story short I got to say that the whole experience in Kenya was beyond all the expatations that I could have ever imagined, in a positive way of course! Before the trip✈️, I had heard that Kenyan people are very down to earth people who like keeping things simple and don’t like worring too much, sounds good I thouht. I definetly felt welcome where ever I went and I wish I would have taken some time to learn kiswahili before the trip but luckily there were great group of Kenyan 🇰🇪 students attending the GHSS who kindly and patiently taught me. One of the most memorable moments for me in Kenya was visiting Kibera where I got to learn about the different dimensions of life. 👨‍🏫 GHSS Tropical medicine course covered vast amounts of information about tropical medicine and Kenyan public health issues (both are topics that we don’t really cover in Finnish med schools). Unforgetable memories, valuable lessons, many questions ❓🧐and topics about health care, public health, hard realities of human life and other health related issues arrised during the whole study period. All these things that are essential knowledge for future generations of doctors and public health professionals. The GHSS was only a one week intensive course (I personaly wish it would have lasted longer) but it was remarkable to notice how well friendships can be made in a such short period of time! . -Tuomas Haukka,🇫🇮

. I expected to learn about the Kenyan health system, how decentralisation of health care compares to centralization of healthcare, to learn more about the disease burden in Eastern Africa and to get to Kilifi 🏝. The experience was at par with all my expectations. I learnt that we share the same diseases and management doesn’t change that much. I also learnt about the Finnish🇫🇮 ,German🇩🇪and Denmark 🇩🇰 health system. I got to learn more about the Swahili culture and demystify my myths about Agikuyu and akamba The ocean 🌊 was the best thing and relaxing with you guys. I got more exposed to the health care setting of Kenya and most importantly got friends GHSS got me more friends than I expected, I learnt about tropical medicine and gain more knowledge on global health. I believe it has further rejuvenated my interested in global health I would tell those who wish to attend GHSS not to miss out . Just apply and wait for the experience. 😎 . -Andrew Matabi, 🇺🇬

. Before I attended the summer school , I had always wondered how summer schools are. I therefore had great expectations from this year’s GHSS (especially since it was in Kilifi)😌. From the summer school, I expected to learn more about Global Health and vast my knowledge on Tropical🌴 Medicine . I also expected to make lifelong friends from within Kenya 🇰🇪 and internationally 🇫🇮 🇩🇰 🇩🇪 and get a chance to “mix and match” ideas. My expectation of what a summer school would look and feel like were met beyond .🙌🏿🙌🏿, thanks to @ippnw_africa @zahanativentures @pwaniuni Best thing about GHSS2018 were the field trips around villages in Kilifi, evening beach fun and conversations, the hospital rounds, improving my photography 📷 skills, debates on better healthcare and the new cuisines😋 that I got to try out From the summer school, I came out with friends, really great friends. I also came out with knowledge on Global Health and Tropical Medicine which will be very instrumental in my career as not just a doctor but as a public health specialist. For those planning to attend succeeding Summer School, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. (We,the alumni, will make sure you all have a better experience than what we had.) The experience is a perfect blend of work and play 😀. . -Deen Opondo, 🇰🇪

. I came to Kilifi and to GHSS without any expectations but I felt that I would learn more about tropical diseases in their real environment at the equator where they these clinical cases tend to rampant. I was positively suprised about the summer school and the most educational things what I learned were seeing the real cases and learning how they prevent and cure them in Kenya. I also got to share my experiences regarding medical school system and healthcare system in Finland🌎👩‍⚕️. It was amazing how we live in the same world but experiences are totally different. I really recommend the course to others, especially students from abroad since it’s better to learn about tropical diseases where they exist. And finally what I found the best thing about the course was the awesome people attending because we became friends really quick and did a lot of fun things together every day and night.😃😃 . -Wilhelmiina Repka, 🇫🇮

Global Health Summer School 2018 participants. 🌴📷😀

. I was curious about Public Health and how it plays out practically, rather than just the theoretical knowledge I have from class. This expectation was fully met in the plenary and practical🔬 sessions. My favourite part was the field visit where we witnessed the work Katana, a PH officer👨🏽‍⚕, does in helping out a lady and her son diagnosed with leprosy. I had only read it in Microbiology but never thought it still existed. 🙈 I was impacted to research more. Seeing the work going on at the KEMRI labs was fascinating!⚕ GHSS has widened my idea of career choices, as I was exposed to areas that my heart hadn't set out on before. I will definitely pursue research🔎 as I progress with my medical studies. Do not hesitate! Please attend the GHSS. It is the perfect balance of work and adventure. Exploring Kilifi was fun; we put off our labcoats👩🏽‍🔬 that we had during the day and put on our swimming costumes🏊🏾‍♀ by evening. How often do you get to do that? It is also a great opportunity to meet new friends from Kenya🇰🇪🇫🇮🇩🇪 and all over the world, with whom you'll tour beaches and enjoy new cuisines together. 😊 . -Joy Mueni Muli, 🇰🇪

My expectations were to learn more about the issues affecting health in a global scale. I also expected to learn more about tropical medicine especially those that affecting our region. My expectations were more than met. The best thing about it is the exposure you get. The practical sessions 🔬 were really good. Also the interactions between the tutors and us and also among ourselves seeing that we were a versatile group🤓 I came out with experience. I came out with holistic knowledge on Tropical medicine and global health. I came out with friendship and lifelong connections. Thank you Zahanati Ventures for this wondrous opportunity 🙌🏿 . GHSS will help my career especially in terms of research and integration of what I learn and application to the community For those wanting to attend the next GHSS, be open minded and ready to learn. Have a team spirit and you will come out with a lifetime experience.😀 . -Teresa Nyamora, 🇰🇪

. Attending this year’s GHSS made me gain lots of new knowledge that I didn’t have before🧐. Interaction with medical students from different diversities helped me a lot and made me to start thinking from a different point of view in matters related to health and its management. My expectations were duely met. Actually, I never expected this type of interaction. It was so interpersonal and I gained and appreciated the similarities and differences between all of us. GHSS an opportunity that you never want to miss. It's life changing!! Go for it and thank me later. Students, a lots of idea sharing. Practical bit, also was nice. The facilitators were fantastic. The food!!!! I can't leave that one out.😋😋 As I said earlier, the summit has made me to always think from a different angle. With my day to day responsibilities in my career, I'll be meeting different challenges over and over again and I'll know how to tackle them as required, thanks to GHSS. . -Dennis Opondo, 🇰🇪

. At first , I was very curious about the Global Health Summer School and did not have definite expectations. I looked forward to engaging with people from all over the world on global health issues (and wanted to fresh up my tropical medicine skills👩‍💻👩‍⚕️.)Furthermore I looked forward to my 'first-time-in-Africa-experience'.😎. My expectations were more than met. I can now imagine how the health care works in Kenya, which problems and issues there are and who is working on them. I got to know many health students and experienced what our social, familiar and cultural background means for our decision making later in life. GHSS2018 was a very intense🧐 and unique experience since you had to spend 24h 7 days a week together with people from all over the world 🌎 going to local hospitals, doing a field trip and eating in local restaurants and trying different native cuisines. Having been born and brought up in Germany/Denmark this was an unforgettable experience as it nourished the little knowledge we had about the cultural and political background in other places in the world. GHSS2018 experience gave me an idea of how global health works.At least I can imagine what working with MSF entails and the next time I will be better prepared for a stay in a developing country. For other medical students who would like to experience GHSS I have a package for you💁🏻‍♀️. All you need is to learn a few words in Swahili, check your medical English knowledge(for those who English is not their first language 😁), take your swim clothes👙 and camera 📷 – and then jump in the summer school and see what happens. And plan more time for a loner stay down there – Kenya is much more than Kilifi. 😉 . -Julia Kilian, 🇩🇰🇩🇪