Hello Kenyan teachers! I’m a Kenyan woman who came to Sweden December 2006. I was a trained teacher back home and had a four year teaching experience in high school. When I came to Sweden, I was forced to go through the normal language learning procedure , i.e SFI, SSAS grund, Svenska A and Svenska B.
Armed with my tools of trade, I sent them to Högskoleverket and it did not take long before I became certified to teach in all Swedish primary and secondary schools. Today i teach in upper primary school (högstadiet) in Stockholm. I would like to get in touch with Kenyan teachers who are living in Sweden. I have a feeling that there are so many Kenyans who are trained teachers and they are not teaching in Sweden just because they have missed vital information.
Lots of brains are going to waste yet opportunities are there. These opportunities are waiting for us to grab, but before we do that we need to meet and lay down some strategies. I would also like to meet Kenyans who are in the teaching field. It would be nice to share the experiences we go through in the teaching proffession.
It is high time Kenyans came together and tried to uplift one another. As we all know, Kenya has produced so many intelligent people and going abroad can force one to settle for less in the name of “hapa si nyumbani, hizo kazi siyo ya wageni,l azima uwe na connections ndiyo upate kazi na kadhalika”.
Yes, it is not nyumbani, but for how long are we going to dwell on such negative thoughts while watching opportunities pass by?
Wake up Kenyan teachers and let us use the powers we were given to do what we are good at doing: Imparting knowledge! Did we not receive the powers during that colourfull graduation ceremony? When Kenyatta, Moi etc said “By the powers vested on me, I give you the power to…these powers were not limited!
Remember that no government can say no to an educated person. Language should not be a barrier, if we made it through the Kenyan hectic education system, I believe we can make it anywhere in the globe. Please get in touch with me if this sounds interesting! Long live Kenyans!
The thirst for knowledge keeps hunting me. I will not rest until the thirst is quenched!(Chebet, 21.02.2010)
About the Author
Very well written Chebet; That’s the motto, imagine if all Kenyans were thinking like you do. Anyways i for one found this sending very appealing and if i was a Teacher or in the teaching field i would jump to contacts with you, too bad Im majored in another field very far from teaching.
I too believe that it’s a high time Kenyans start working together to uplift each other instead of working against each other. It’s very simple if you see your fellow country men struggling to start something meaningful to them all you need to do is support them in wahtever way you can, and i dont mean donations, you can help each other in very many ways. After all we all searching that’s why we are here freezing in this cold; So guys as we keeping suching in our own different ways let’s not forget to promote those who really needs it.
wewe mama una akili sana ! watu wote siyo kama wewe !!
wengine tunapenda kufagia au kuosha masufuria !
mungu akubariki !
Dear Chebet,
Your love for your country men and women reminds me of a young maiden in the bible named Esther. She was a Jew living in a foreign country, Persia, for reasons you and I would partly relate to.
That she had angukiad to be the Kings wife did not make her forget or overlook her people– and i see the same in you.
In the fourth chapter of the book named after her, Esther makes a bold move, a clear sign of the love she had for her people- verse 16c… And so will I go in unto the King, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish!
Her action saved an entire community.
What you’ve done will save not only those in the teaching field from despising themselves (or accepting despisal), but will also benefit their families and inspire all of us to pursuing our respective dreams! And it will be written in the history of Kenya-Stockholm, forever.
My prayer: Dear God, thank you for blessing us with people like Chebet– people who want their brethren well. May you bless her increasingly and help us to follow her example.
Remember our community, forgive all of our sins and lead us in paths of righteousness for your Name’s sake.
Father, let all the blessings listed in Deutronomy 28:1-14 befall every member of the Kenyan community and even those who read this prayer today. I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.
Thanks for your kind words fellow Kenyans. Mkenya you know you can always pursue your passion anywhere in the world. Send those papers to the relevant authorities if you have not done it. They will always respond. One thing i have noticed is that our Kenyan diplomas are recognised here.Muraya thanks for your kind words and your prayer. Mtachaamambi,the most important thing in life is to do what your heart likes.For me, teaching is my passion and i would not be comfortable doing something else. Ofcourse i was forced to do other jobs before landing my dream job. If cleaning is your dream job then go for it. It is a proffession too! I just felt that there could be Kenyans who are trained teachers and have not got the opportunities to do what they love most. I will be glad to share all the important information to whoever wants.
May the name of our Lord and savior Jesus christ be glorofied forever. May God bless you because of showing much love and care to your fellow wananchi and willing freely to “show” them the way. Am so touched coz not many here even when they know of opportunities likes to share such info.
God is really doing something new in this country. God less you chebet.
Chebet this is the spirit. We can do so much in this country if only we could share information. In Kenya we grew up helping each other, we came here and adopted the Swedish way of life ‘dela’. We don’t want to give freely. Lets follow Chebet’s footsteps and anyone out there that has something that can benefit Kenyans, speak out. Let KSB publish it and other Kenyan outlets “It is more blessed to give than to receive”. Let us lift the image of Kenyans here. Our image is relatively bad right now, but we can change that. Tuache wivu, tupendane, tusameheane yale mabaya yame tendeka.Hizo recordi za history mbaya tu erase. Kwa kweli hata tutaanza kusikia raha moyoni, kwa sababu maoni maovu, hasira,chuki hutuchafua tu. Hayo maombi ya muraya idumu milele kwa wakenya. Shetani ashindwe kabisa!Tuombe ‘resurrection!’ ya umoja,upendo na amani tafadhali.
Hello Chebet, thanks alot for your msg to all Kenyans in Sweden. I am positive we can help each other even though it seems you are a step ahead than me with the language.
Pls email me on mutuli@live.se. We will talk more.
Be blessed,
Mueni
chebet i like the way you challenge us here back at home en am really challenged as a teacher. i would be grateful if you can give me your email address. mine is murigimuturi@yahoo.co.uk .May GOD bless you.
hi chebet.
i just bumped into your blog. I am a kenyan living in london for ten years and i found your message wonderful. because you give to others, god will bless you and give you more.
i hope your example will teach aand inspire others..
Ive often wondered why we guys dont help each other , Theres so much jealousy, suspicion. but look at the nigerians, somalis, ethiopians,chinese, they help each other and thats why why they are are doing so well in london.
ive even got “friends” who will not even tell you how they got their papers, they just want to see you suffer…
Hellow friends!
Thanks once again! Im so pleased that i have received positive response. I know one thing for sure: If the will is there everything is possible. I can narrate as many stories as possible to support this,but we can take it later when we have achieved our goals.
Cheers all!
Hello Chebet, I thought you wrote the following yourself
“””””Remember that no government can say no to an educated person. Language should not be a barrier, if we made it through the Kenyan hectic education system, I believe we can make it anywhere in the globe. Please get in touch with me if this sounds interesting! Long live Kenyans!”””””
A friend of mine wrote here and gave you her contact and you never kept in touch YET you wrote on your latest communication the below msg.
“””Hellow friends!
Thanks once again! Im so pleased that i have received positive response. I know one thing for sure: If the will is there everything is possible. I can narrate as many stories as possible to support this,but we can take it later when we have achieved our goals.
Cheers all!””””
Why did you ask people to keep in touch for your advise. Yea, another kenyan enjoying kenyans…………….
Comment by Chebet | February 24, 2010
Thank you Parrotalk. Some correction though, this is not my blog,rather it is the Kenyan stockholm blog. We have enjoyed sharing ideas through this blog and credit goes to the founder Osewe.
Im glad that so many people visit the blog. It shows that most people are interested in what we do here in stockholm and Sweden as a whole. You are right, other foreigners help each other. I believe that Kenyans too do the same but no one has really cared to talk about it so much. A good example is the Kenyan man who helped to house six Kenyans who were stranded at the train station. The issue was highlighted in this blog. However, I feel we should do more. Im doing this because i will gain nothing by witholding information that would have helped somebody to achieve his/her goals. One thing we should remember is that we are all humanbeings and one time or another we all need somebody to boost us. courtesy also demands that we help one another.
Cheers all!
Juliet,i wrote to the two people who left their mail ad and they replied. Could i have missed something?? Im not out to enjoy any one. What will i gain from doing that???? Malice is the worst thing on earth. Please contact the two people who left their mail ad above. They can testify to that. I even gave them my tel number!!
This is to Juliet who seems to have something negative about Chebet. Can you be honest with yourself and tell us who is this friend of yours whom Chebet wrote to and never replied. I guess you are one of those guys who write on this blog to hurt people. Me personally, Chebet replied to my email as soon as she got it and she is quite a positive lady. Pls stop this and mind your own business.
Mueni, i guess you r a mkau and if you think mkale will feed you or make your life in sweden comfortable, then you are very wrong. I guess you came to sweden a year ago or so. Here people do not rely on each other, ni wewe na mashida zako, full stop.
Hello Kenyans!
What i thought would be beneficial is now heading to the direction i never wanted or imagined. My main aim as stated earlier was to share useful information. I was not out to enjoy any one,neither was I out to earn respect: I earned my respect along time ago.
Having seen how things can go wrong, I would like to share the information I would have shared here and end the topic for now. It is not because im a coward, it is because my morals and standards can not allow me to exchange unpleasant words with any one.
The following are the steps which one must follow in order to become a certified teacher:
1. Contact studentvägledeare in komvux within your kommun. Book an appointment.
2. Take with you copies and original certificates to your appointment. Request him/her to certify the copies.
3.Write a letter to Högsoleverket and request them to (bedöma dina betyg)i.e translate. send the letter together with the certified copies.
4. You will receive a letter acknowledging your request.
5. After four to five months you will receive what they call”UTLÅTANDET”. Utlåtandet states exactly your subjects. The paper can be used to seek a vikarie jobb(temporary employment)
6. Complete your swedish B and download (behöriget forms in högskoleverket webbplatsen). Fill in and send them.
7. After 5months you will receive your (behöriget) or instructions on how you can complete your training.
The above are basically the steps. For further clarification, visit högskoleverket webbplatsen att http://WWW.hsv.se or ring them at 0856308500.
I know that there are so many kenyans out there who are teaching in Sweden. Im also aware that there are a few Kenyans who are lecturing in the Swedish universities. Let us join hands and help our people. Shairing information is all we need to do.
Never die witholding information that would have benefited somebody(Chebet 2010.02.28)
Cheers fellow Kenyans!
…great work chebet….im impressed…keep it up and forget abt some ignorant people here.
Thanks! Ofcourse i will continue shairing whatever information i find usefull to Kenyans.
Chebet, at first I thought you had some real info. Although the information you have given is important, it can be relevant to people who arrived in Sweden last week. The procedure is the same in all professions, not just teaching. If you are a professional who has lived in Sweden for some time, basic info like learning Swedish language is not rocket science. While it is good that you came up with this information, it is readily available at various Swedish information centers which I can name. I am a Nurse and I went through the same process. No one told me anything because as a learned Kenyan, I found my own way into the labour market and now, I am doing well.
No wonder prostitution is the oldest profession. Who ever thought one Omondi would be in the cold parts of this world rolling her infected booty up and down a pole, then selling it to men??
Hello Triangular!
You are right when you mention that as a learned Kenyan one is able to find his/her own ways and that the information is readily available at Swedish information centres. The procedure is the same when it comes to learning the language. The procedure is however not the same when it comes to being certified. I like to talk about teaching because i have concrete information. It is not gauranteed that one will be certified after completing swedish B. Some will need to complete their training by doing 120hp. This is available through ULV project. When it comes to judicial,apart from swedish B they will need to pursue a two year course in the swedish universities.
I appreciate your views,it reflects that it comes from a proffesional,but at the same time,you should not forget that all of us are different. Some of us need to be given even the most basic information in order to work our ways through the ladder. This does not mean that one is “thick” despite the education. You know very well that there are people who have always struggled the hard way in order to be where they are today,on the other hand,there are people who get things the easy way.
The fact that the information is available in the swedish information centres does not mean that all of us are aware. It is not true that the information i gave is relevant to new comers. I have met several Kenyans who find it difficult to believe that one can can be a teacher within a short period. In some situations, i have been forced to show my certificates in order to prove that it is possible. Those who have doubted me,i have always told them to google my name.
It is wonderful that we have a nurse who is also willing to share some information.Please share the information with other nurses on how you made your ways.If you wish,you can also name the centres. Believe me somebody will find it usefull!
Im however excited that i can reason with you and that you could point out that the information i gave was not so useful since it is already available. If you read my first call,it was directed to those who are here and lack information. It was also directed to those who are already teachers since i wanted to come in contact with them.
It is through shairing ideas that one is able to realize oooh so it was not that vital!
Triangular share information please. This is what we are saying, we come we succeed and wonder why our brothers and sisters are not enjoying the same benefits. If many like you and Chebet jitokezeared you will help many. Love is sharing bwana…..
Hullo Chebet,
I don’t know if I know your face physically, but your name I have heard from a number of people. Althogh I qualified as a teacher of Maths and English, for gymnasium, from the Stockholm Teacher Traing College only in 2002 I I started teaching while I was a student in the USA. I would continue teaching there until I returned to Kenya, where I continued teach and later in Tanzania until I came here. This idea of bringing teachers in Sweden has been on my min long long. I would like you and i to meet so that we take this idea a step further instead of comments comments.
you may ring me 08859358, 0736350189 or e-mil me at ondusyos@yahoo.se
Hamjambo wanainchi popote mlipo!
When I came up with this idea and requested Osewe to disseminate it on his blogg, he actually mentioned that one Chebet had already launched it and I should contact her.unfortunately I was lazy and did not. However, yesterday I visited her blogg for the first time. I read through all the 22 comments. From some commentators I got the impression that they are averse to her idea. As one of the oldest Kenyan teachers in Sweden i Think this is unfortunate. This lady has a good useful idea similar to my own and I with her all the way. Please you who is a teacher in Sweden, team up with us so we should not only potential Kenyan/African teachers but also Kenyan/African youngsters with their educational asprations. Don’t stand on the sidelines!
Hullo African/aspiring African teacher in Sweden,
At the moment I am very very busy, but I still wait for you to take contact with me (you are even free to call me on 08-859358, 0736350189) or even Chebet, 0739762742. I would like us to get together and storm out ideas on how we can enliven those Africans who are already teachers and those who are aspirants and students who intend to be teachers. The idea is to create enthusiasm, creativity and curiousity among Afro-swedes, within and regarding education. Once this idea takes off of the ground….I have no idea where the limit will be!
I anxiously wait to read from you!
Comment by Osore Ondusye