Student Profiles – MagernehKenya

Magerneh was just over a year away from completing his medical studies at Dilla University (Ethiopia) when he fled to Kenya due to insecurity. When he came across the announcement about the Humans and the Environment course on the public noticeboard, having also previously obtained a degree in crop and horticultural science and being concerned about environmental issues, he thought “Oh! This is just for me.” He immediately enrolled in Humans and the Environment, which is part of five courses related to Sustainable Environment, each certified by the Newman Institute (Sweden). 

His favorite aspect of the course is its focus on tangible, globally relevant problems and applicable solutions. Through the course, Margerneh “now know[s] what the problems are and how to tackle them systematically and sustainably.” He also enjoys interacting with students from different corners of the world.

Through the course, Magerneh has come to believe that “someone alone can bring a change by mobilizing others, [and a] minority can influence the majority.” Transferring knowledge to and mobilizing community members will be key and is part of Magerneh’s plan. For now, he will start by organizing and engaging the community around a tree-planting initiative. 

He hopes to complete the studies he had to abandon but in the meantime will continue to nourish his mind by gaining knowledge in the areas of environmental science, politics, economics, and management, so that one day he may help the people of the African continent. To current and future JWL students, he would say:

“When you get a chance to learn, do it well to the maximum you can! Love your subjects. If you love them, they will respond and become easy for you! […] When you study, don’t think you are studying for only yourself. Feel your poor communities, feel your poor country, feel your poor continent Africa – this is going to give you some kind of great energy!” 

To read other stories from the 2020 CLCC Yearbook, click here