From Hyderabad to Mombasa on the Aga Khan Academies Exchange Programme

Grade 9 student Parnika Veerapaneni, who recently returned from the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa in Kenya, shares her experience from participating in the Aga Khan Academies Exchange Programme. This programme consists of students from the Academies in Hyderabad, Maputo and Mombasa travelling to another Academy, learning more about their host country and its culture, meeting students from around the world, participating in service initiatives, and much more. 

The Aga Khan Academies Exchange Programme this year was a fulfilling but testing experience. While I did not discover some hidden part of my personality like a movie heroine running off to a faraway place, I did enjoy some really significant experiences, and I made memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. It was a packed 11 weeks of meeting new people and cherishing the laughter which often came from the common room balcony overlooking the ocean in the residences. When I first arrived at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, I did not expect to grow so attached to a place and the people living there. However, the experience wasn’t all sunshine either.

It took me a while to get used to the different teaching styles of the teachers and the expectations that came with being a residential student. Being a night owl, I missed a few of the morning exercises and did my share of complaining about the workload! But with hindsight, all I can remember are the great outings and overnight trips we went on – the hours spent in the waters of Vipingo beach, the haggling with jewellery sellers in Old Town and the rough tongue of a giraffe eating out of my hand at Haller Park.

One of the most gratifying experiences during the programme was the trip to Taita. It was a three-day hiking trip where we covered 15 kilometres on the first day and reached the foot of Mt. Vuria on the second day. I had never hiked before, and I was terrified about the possibility of getting lost. The first day was challenging, with a long walk under the baking sun. The second day was one of my favourite memories of the programme. When we reached the foot of Mt. Vuria, thick mist and clouds blocked most of the view, but the lush countryside and the great company added to the feeling of accomplishment of climbing up such steep terrain.

Something about being in a completely different cultural landscape, with people who are from such contrasting upbringings to that of my own, had me thinking about my role on this planet and who I wanted to be. I loved the openness of the people and their willingness to dance in front of everyone during dance nights or sing enthusiastically during karaoke nights. I did a lot of introspection during my time in Mombasa and emerged a more confident person who is more comfortable in their own skin.