2007's AITI Kenya team was comprised of four undergraduate and one graduate MIT student. The students backgrounds ranged from physics, to computer science, to management and business. After being selected, the team immediately reviewed the curriculum and began making preparations for the summer. The team realized that mobile phone programming would be an appropriate addition to the curriculum given the incredible growth of mobile phones in Kenya (and Africa). The team, led by Michael Gordon, developed slides, labs and projects for this curriculum that focused on J2ME mobile phone programming. The Kenya team taught at both Strathmore University in Nairobi and also at Alliance Boys High School in Kikuyu. While the summer proved to be extremely challenging in many ways, it also was an amazingly rewarding experience as we had the chance to not only observe, but also to become a part of the educational system and culture of Kenya. We interacted with and motivated the students by not only teaching them, but also by providing them with advice about pursuing careers in technology and choosing among various academic paths in Kenya and and the United States.
