ILP Participant Information Handbook
International Leadership Programme
Kitengela, Kenya
7th – 18th January 2025
A huge treasure trove of experiences
and people to unfold your inner
leader and potential
FLORIAN FAFF (Germany)
© WYSE International 2024
Introduction
We are looking forward to seeing you in January! Here is some background information to help
you prepare for and get the best out of the programme.
WYSE has been running International Leadership programmes for 35 years with participants
coming from 109 different countries around the world.
The WYSE International Leadership Programme is a 12-day intensive training programme, where
participants from many different cultures, religions and socio-economic backgrounds come
together to form an international learning community. The programme is for people who care
about what’s happening in the world and are willing to do what they can to make a positive
difference.
Participants report that the programme is a time of self-exploration, gaining life-long skills,
building community, raising awareness of global issues, and making deep connections with like-
minded people from all around the world.
The Wildlife Foundation, is where the WYSE programme is held.
I didn’t have to travel all over the world to learn the dynamic of our global culture and
leadership styles. WYSE brings everyone together in one villa!
TSION ASMARE (Ethiopia)
Contact information
WYSE International Headquarters
WYSE International
Marcham Priory, 34 Packhorse Lane, Marcham, Abingdon, OX13 6NT United Kingdom
E-mail: ilp@[Link]
Web: [Link]
Page 2 of 18
Logistics
Travel details
See the Appendix at the end of this document with website, travel information and some
accommodation suggestions if you intend to stay in Kenya before or after the programme.
Please ensure that you have Travel Insurance in place before you depart which includes medical
cover.
Venue
The venue where the WYSE programme is held is The Wildlife Foundation. The foundation
maintains a community-based conservation that fosters a peaceful coexistence between humans,
wildlife, and livestock - [Link] Accommodation and meals
are provided at the venue.
The foundation is in an animal conservation area so it is quite isolated in relation to the nearest
town of Kitengela and so we ask people to come well prepared for their 12 day stay, ensuring
that you have brought everything you need with you. This includes any toiletries and personal
items that you might need as there will not be easy opportunities to gain supplies. There are very
limited laundry facilities at the venue.
The programme is very full and we want to make sure people get the most out of this unique
international experience. There will not be an opportunity to do any site-seeing or exploring
during the programme.
There will however, be an opportunity for you to do this after the programme. Many participants
meet up afterwards and this can be sorted with the others at the end of the programme.
Page 3 of 18
Programme Guidelines
WYSE is an opportunity for people from all over the world to form an international learning
community. We have found that it is helpful to set some guidelines for how we interact in order
that we can all get along together and ensure we get the most out of our time.
One of the initial sessions of the programme will be to relook at our guidelines and to work out
what is important to us as a group when we are living together during the programme. We are
sure you too will have experiences and ideas from previous experiences that you could
contribute to this session.
It is useful to review the following Ways of Working in preparation for the programme.
Alcohol & Drugs
During the programme we ask that everyone involved refrains from using illegal drugs and
drinking alcohol. We ask this because we want people to be clear within themselves and
respectful of religious and cultural differences.
Food
The venue will provide meals including a vegetarian option using local cuisine. Unfortunately,
we are not able to provide a strict Halal or Kosher diet, we hope that this will work for people.
Dress Code
There is no formal dress code for the programme, so we suggest you bring comfortable, casual
clothes. However, we ask that you keep in mind different cultural perspectives about fashion and
modesty and ask that, when in training sessions, people dress appropriately.
Accommodation
The accommodation facilities at the venue are basic but comfortable, the foundation is used for
conservation training programs. You will be sharing a room with either one or two participants of
the same gender. Shower facilities are separate from the rooms.
Page 4 of 18
Being Respectful
As in any professional development programme we ask that people show respect for each other
and the presenters by coming to sessions on time, not using mobile phones during sessions and
refraining from taking photos during training sessions. This ensures that everyone gets the most
out of the experience and that they are not interfering with other participants’ learning process.
Communication
In regards to communication with the venue – their contact number is +254 718 356 675
People often ask whether there is a wireless connection at the venue so they can use their
laptops. There is limited wireless connection so we really encourage you to make the most of
this unique experience by not spending all of your spare time on your computers. Many
participants in the past have commented how much they appreciated having the space away
from their normal routines and communications. So we would encourage you to take a risk and
try not bringing your laptop. If you do bring it please be mindful of when you use it.
Non English Speaking Backgrounds
Many participants will come from different language backgrounds. As you know the language
that the programme is presented in is English and we ask that participants have a working
knowledge of English to participate in this programme. However, it is very important to us that
people have a chance to understand and to be heard. The staff are very mindful of the language
challenges (some also come from non-English speaking backgrounds) and therefore do their best
to speak clearly and slowly. Of course we may need some reminding from time to time! We
invite everyone to be aware of our language differences and be thoughtful in how we respect
each others’ needs in this respect.
Environment
The Wildlife Foundation offers community conservation; by supporting the local community of
masaai people to keep their land open to wildlife and in return the local people gain financial
benefit, bursary for students to attend school and employment opportunity as game scouts.
The foundation also provides support and facilities to enable better living with wildlife to prevent
lions from killing domestic animals. For more information on the wonderful work they do,
please have a look at their website [Link]
Page 5 of 18
What to bring
The weather in Kenya during January is warm. daytime temperatures average around 25 C and
night time can get quite cold as low as 16 C .
It will not be easy to get toiletries or personal items once you are at the venue so please
endeavour to bring what you need with you.
• Walking shoes
• Casual clothes
• Rain gear
• Something warm to wear at night
• Your own notebook and writing material
• Toiletries
• Mosquito repellent
Please note:
• Bed linen provided
• Bring your own towels
Other things to bring….
• An open mind
• A sense of adventure
• Your sense of fun
• Your imagination
The Staff Team
We are fortunate to have a dedicated staff team from around the world who are highly talented
businesspeople, coaches, educators, psychologists, and performers. Members of the staff team
volunteer their time to conduct the WYSE programme. WYSE is a non-profit organization that
relies heavily on volunteer contributions.
All of the staff are very experienced in working with Leadership programmes and with multi-
cultural groups. They are experts in their fields and are looking forward to sharing their
experiences – and also learning from each of you! Many of our staff are WYSE Alumni and have
participated in a programme like the International Leadership Programme in the past.
All staff agree and sign up to a WYSE code of ethics before coming onto the programme. A copy
of this is available for you to see on request.
Page 6 of 18
Our approach
While we know you will have all read this material on the website before applying, below is some
information about WYSE and our approach to leadership and how we conduct our programmes.
In short, this won’t be your “normal” type of leadership programme. This is not the sort of
programme where people will be lecturing at you or telling you what you should think. The way
we approach the programme is to use as many different educational methods as possible. We’ll
be encouraging you to use different modalities, try out different ways of learning, access
resources that you may not normally use, and learn from each other as much as you learn from
the formal side of the programme.
We also are mindful that we are working with a very diverse group of people from all over the
world, so we need to use different methods of learning in order to find a language and variety of
methods to meet many people’s needs.
It is likely that you will be familiar with some of the educational approaches we use, while others
might be new to you. As an aspiring and developing leader, we encourage you to address the
challenge of new ways of working as an opportunity to stretch and grow!
WYSE programmes are based on challenging participants to understand and work with
leadership. It wouldn’t be a leadership programme if there weren’t a few challenges along the
way…
The way we educate the youth and leaders of tomorrow must also
change, we must seize the moment to liberate and mobilize minds
to face these challenges with strength and purpose.
Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General
Page 7 of 18
Characteristics of the WYSE approach
Please review the sections below to connect with the WYSE approach.
An experiential approach
WYSE values an experiential approach to education - meaning we create opportunities for people
to learn through experiences. We believe in nurturing the potential in each person that we work
with and aim to help him or her to identify the unique contribution that they can make in the
world. Therefore we provide opportunities for people to express themselves through a diversity
of modalities. For example, our programmes contain elements of team-building, physical activity,
discussion, drama, writing, art and music, as well as more traditional techniques of education.
We aim to create a learning community where each participant is both teacher and learner; and
we design new and interesting ways of education that encourage a shared learning experience.
Our trainers do not believe in telling people what they should think or feel. WYSE offers tools for
discovery rather than the prescription of answers. We believe that each individual needs to find
something that works for them, and that each person has the potential to find their own
answers. We aim to inspire an understanding of lifelong learning, the need to learn how to be
flexible, to change and adapt as one moves through life.
A creative approach
We strongly believe that as a species we need to learn to think and act differently to address the
seemingly intractable problems in our world. Our programmes focus on inspiring participants to
explore new ways of thinking in order to create new models of possibility for themselves and for
the world we share. We believe that understanding the creative process can assist people to
develop a sense of choice and create innovative solutions for local and global challenges.
We believe in the inherent creativity of everyone and we set up learning processes that
encourage people to access deeper levels of experience. We draw upon the holistic experience of
the person, accessing input from the mind, body and spirit. Our aim is to help participants in our
courses to create a more complete picture of their potential and their ability to make a positive
difference in the world.
Page 8 of 18
An empowering approach
Our educational philosophy is based on the importance of nurturing the potential in each young
person that we work with. Our aim is to help them identify and express the unique contribution
that they can make in the world. WYSE encourages people to understand and believe in their
own potential, to see the potential in others, and to work with others in ways that help everyone
express their best qualities.
WYSE believes that the empowerment of young people needs to be based on the development of
their inner strengths, rather than reliance on external factors. Our programmes empower young
people by encouraging personal accountability while promoting enjoyment of life, diversity,
creativity and friendship. We encourage participants to take up the challenge of creating a liberal
and globally aware society through pursuing their individual goals in ways that serve humanity.
Values based approach
WYSE uses a values based approach, which means we focus on helping people to identify the
guiding principles that they use to make positive life choices. WYSE is committed to being an
inclusive organisation. Our programmes involve working with people from many cultural,
religious and social backgrounds. Through working with values we find a way to establish a
common understanding that is based on goodwill and respect for differences. Values are
universal in nature and transcend the boundaries of nationality, culture and religion. WYSE
believes that these shared values need to be reawakened, nurtured and sustained for the
advancement of the world.
Over the years we have found that young people all over the world share common concerns
about issues such as destruction of the planet, human rights, poverty, racism, conflict, violence,
terrorism and war. WYSE offers opportunities for people to engage in dialogue about such issues
and encourages a holistic world view that is underpinned by the need for shared values and an
awareness of our ultimate interconnection.
Inner leadership
WYSE programmes are based on challenging participants to understand and work with
leadership. Unfortunately leadership is often understood as an authoritarian and hierarchical
concept. Our research suggests that many young people do not trust the traditional approaches
to leadership that they see in the world today, and they believe that the current leaders are
responsible for many of the problems that they will inherit. Many of the problems of humanity
are due to a lack of understanding of what it means to be a leader.
WYSE believes that every person has the potential for leadership. Leadership is an expression of
our willingness to engage in the issues and challenges we see around us. It is about finding
creative solutions to global and local problems. It is no longer appropriate or sufficient that a
leader simply has knowledge and understanding of their own field, discipline, position or country.
To address the challenges that are inherent in our global society, tomorrow's leaders must learn
to understand and listen to the needs of others. WYSE works with leadership as a role and an
attitude - not simply as a position of influence.
WYSE is interested in people learning to be in contact with their "inner leader" - the part of them
that knows and understands the meaning and purpose in their lives. We encourage people to
take up the leadership for themselves, to live responsibly and with greater awareness of both
their own needs and the needs of others. Participants learn that to effectively lead others, they
must first know themselves. WYSE promotes values based and inspirational leadership.
Page 9 of 18
Global citizenship
WYSE encourages people to grapple with a global perspective and gain a sense of their own value
in contributing to a peaceful and equitable world. Our programmes provide an opportunity for
people to step outside their usual assumptions in order to gain insight into the underlying causes
of our global challenges, and inspire them to take up the challenge of addressing these issues
through active global citizenship.
WYSE strives towards a vision for humanity that is based on our interconnection and an
understanding of the need for shared values. We aim to help people to discover and realise that
what they do in their own communities affect people in other parts of the world. We believe that
all people are connected in tangible and realistic ways, and are part of the one human family.
WYSE aims to educate young people to understand that unity through diversity is, in fact, a
practical reality of the current experience of life on this planet.
WYSE believes that it is essential to educate people differently if we are to create new solutions
to global problems. We promote an understanding of our connection to the planet and to one
another. We believe that the in order to survive we need to develop a more holistic view of what
is happening on this planet and understand that all life is mutually interdependent.
Page 10 of 18
Programme objectives
WYSE is one of the longer leadership programmes available to young people, and it is certainly
unique in that it creates an international learning community in a residential context.
We have such a wonderful opportunity to be with people from all over the planet, and there is
much to learn from each other while living and learning together.
• The development of a learning community that challenges and inspires new thinking
• An opportunity to learn about yourself as a leader
• An opportunity to explore the underlying causes of global problems, and develop a social
entrepreneurial approach
• Experiences that help identify values and guiding principles in order to gain a sense of
balance, purpose and life direction
• Tools and experiences for discovering potential through all learning modalities, including
team projects, physical activities, reflection, discussion and the arts
• An opportunity to develop an international network of people who wish to collaborate
and make a positive difference in the world
• A focus on the influence of and relationship between individuals, local NGOs and
international organisations such as the United Nations.
The daily structure of the day is outlined below.
A typical day
8.00 Morning exercise 10 10 10
8.30 Breakfast
9.15 Home groups
10.00 Morning Session 1
Break
Morning Session 2
1.00 Lunch
3.00 Afternoon Session 1
Break
Afternoon Session 2
6.00 Spare time
6.45 Dinner
8.00 Evening Session
9:30 Finish
Page 11 of 18
Overview of programme content
We don’t want to give you too much information before the programme, but we are aware that
some people like to know what is planned and where we are heading. Therefore an overview of
the topics that we will cover during the programme is provided below. Some of the sessions may
not follow on the exact day that it is listed, as WYSE’s approach is to be flexible regarding the
timetable in order to respond to the group’s needs and to adjust the order in which sessions
should take place.
Day 1 • Introductions and orientation to programme
Day 2 • Establishing a learning community
• Reviewing our individual journeys, transition and change
• Understanding culture and developing transcultural skills
Day 3 • Team building and communication skills; working with group dynamics
• Exploring personal values and guiding principles
• Understanding a global perspective
Day 4 • Managing inner and outer resources
• Personality and leadership
• Dealing with inner conflict and making choices
Day 5 • Leading from a centred place
• The psychology of leadership development A
• Personal coaching session A
Day 6 • Skills for learning through reflection
• Developing a sense of meaning, purpose and personal vision
Day 7 • Motivation, inner direction and taking action
• United Nations and the role of international organizations
• Global citizenship and social entrepreneurship
Day 8 • Servant leadership and creating change, The 2 dimensional model
• Global issues and the challenges of humanity
• Power
Day 9 • Meaning, purpose and inner leadership
• The psychology of leadership development B
• Moving from Vision to Action
Day 10 • Skills for working with purpose and goal setting
• Personal coaching session B
• Expressing your passion and inspiring others
Day 11 • Implementation of learning and action planning
• Ongoing support and networking opportunities
• Programme completion and personal assessment
Day 12 • Endings and closure
Page 12 of 18
Preparing Yourself!
Key words
participants
have used
to describe
WYSE
Unique
Dynamic
Inspirational
Respect
Motivating
Supportive
Gently
challenging
Thinking
outside the
box
Empowering
Humbling
Non-
judgemental
Suggestions on how to get the most out of your WYSE experience from Past Participants:
➢ “Enjoy it”
➢ “Have a good time”
➢ “The people are amazing, the other participants and the staff. Make as many friends as
possible, they will be friends for life”
➢ “I think the main thing I would recommend is to stay open to different ways of learning, I
never thought I could learn anything from a drawing or from a play, but its from that sort
of thing I learned the most”
➢ “Stay focused, get clear about what you want to learn during the programme, and ask
people to help you learn it”
➢ “Go with it, have fun and enjoy yourself”
➢ “Use as a time to recharge yourself. Use it to think about where you are going next and
what you can do to make a difference in the world”
➢ “They give you the notes afterwards, but write down as much as you can in your own
words, or keep a record of your thinking so you have it later”
➢ “Use it as a time for yourself, don’t think too much about everything happening at home,
you won’t get this opportunity again in a hurry”
➢ “Remember to not compare yourself to the other people too much, everyone is different
and they all come from different places and have had different opportunities”
Page 13 of 18
A letter from a past Participant from Lebanon
Inas is a young woman from Lebanon who attended a WYSE programme. She enjoyed the
programme so much that she sent an email out to other people who she thought might be
interested in attending the programme. We thought we would share parts of her letter with you
to give you a feeling for the programme, from a participant’s perspective.
Dear All,
I am writing to inform you of the International Leadership Programme that will take place
this summer in Lucca, Italy and to share my experience during this training. So if you
receive this message, then you are a person that I have intentionally selected, believing
that would benefit from this programme and at the same time be of an added-value to
other participants.
The training programme is not conventional in any sense. It includes all kinds of
challenging exercises and games that allow you to uncover various aspects of your
personality and how to best use them in achieving your goals and induce a positive
change; on the inner side as well as in your surroundings. It also contributes to
establishing international relations with people you share common interests and career
aspirations with.
The training includes many sessions which all pour in one focal point, Leadership. And to
my surprise, the concept of leadership in this programme took a form different from what
I would expect in other mainstream training programs.
However, the most interesting part is the context in which this training is executed. You
will be living in a very nice and integrated villa, where you can find a library, swimming
pool, gardens, etc., along with international youth coming from all over the world, and I
mean it 'all over the world'... from countries that you may know very little about, but will
certainly know so much about someone there.
And to add more flavour to this global mix, you will be trained by professional, yet young-
spirited, trainers whom you will be mixing up most of the time with participants due to
their fun and cool attitude. They tackled very fundamental issues in each and every one of
us through presentations, games, activities, illustrations, one-to-one mentoring and even
during meals, yet all this was in the most lit up way possible.
I am sure words won't relay what I have learned and experienced throughout the 12 days,
and that's why I encourage you to go live it out yourselves, as I assure you that you will be
referring to it as a 'before' and 'after'.
Yours sincerely
Inas
Page 14 of 18
One of our Alumni, Stella from Armenia (ILP 2011, ALP 2012 and kitchen ILP 2013), speaks about
the impact WYSE has had on her life:
"An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward."
After leaving all the success I had in my country I moved to a foreign country where
sometimes the feeling of being nobody provokes even the strongest soul. In a new place
everything is so different: new education experience, strangers in the street, new friends,
different lifestyle. This always sounds exciting and in the beginning it is really so, then
gradually I become a part of that “new”, finding surprisingly that I belonged amidst the
inescapable nostalgia for my country and my past.
Now, standing on the verge of new changes- finishing education and trying to find the
right place for me to show my potential, I am scared. I guess the feeling of fear always
accompanies changes. And right there, where everything seems not in the right places, I
can access something that I call Joker- it is my experience with WYSE. It is so surprising
how the positive emotions and thoughts I gained from an amazing community can really
lead me even long after the programs. Being involved in many international programs
and getting to know different people from all over the world WYSE always has special
place in my life.
All the practical skills I have learnt during WYSE programs, even cooking for 50 people
have been so helpful. I use them in my daily life and I am so proud that many things I am
able to do are because during the programs my WYSE family helped me to reveal my
potential. Even now, with this fear in my heart and mind for the coming changes, I feel
confidence that everything will be all right. It takes a moment to close my eyes to
remember all the wonderful people I met during the program and everything I learnt from
them, and then I am sure that my present situation is not my final destination.
Page 15 of 18
Pre & Post Programme
Pre-programme Preparation
In order to get the most out of this experience and a good way for you to prepare is to think
about the following questions
• What’s important to you in a leader?
• What skills do you want to develop?
• What important questions do you have about leadership and your life that you would like
to uncover answers to?
• What are you passionate about, inspired by and drawn to?
• How do you feel you can make a positive difference in the world?
• What are the qualities you want to bring out more in Leadership?
• Options of a coaching programme – start thinking about what you would like support
with?
Alumni Coaching Programme (ACP)
During the programme all participants have 2 individual coaching sessions. They can sign up for a
further 6 as a post-programme follow-up (approximately 1 hour long) with a trained Coach as
part of the Alumni Coaching Programme (ACP). The aim is to clarify what they are learning and
how they can apply what they have learned in their own communities.
Volunteers from the broader WYSE alumni and staff community around the world are then
matched to each participant for further post programme coaching. Participants receive a six
month programme of coaching and support to achieve their goals and deliver their action plan
for the benefit of their local communities when they return home. More will be explained
during the programme.
Programme evaluation
WYSE carries out extensive evaluation of the running of the programme and all participants are
asked to complete a detailed feedback form. This enables us to continually improve and develop
as an organisation.
After the programme
• The programme finishes on Saturday 18th January at 11am.
From there participants will leave together and then it will be your responsibility to
organise travel and accommodation.
• Many people spend a day or two with other participants exploring Kenya before they
leave.
• Contact list of participants and staff will be emailed to you by our International Office
following the programme.
Page 16 of 18
Appendix
TRAVEL DETAILS
Flight: Many airlines fly to Nairobi, to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Visa and vaccinations:
Please check with your country the vaccination and visa requirements, and organise these before
you arrive. A useful website for visa application is
[Link]
or contact your local Kenya High Commission or Embassy.
If you arrive early – there are some suggested places to stay at the end of the document you can
also look at [Link] or [Link] [Link] for local hotels in Nairobi.
Venue:
We have organised a minibus to pick everyone up from CJ’s restaurant at Imara Shopping Mall on
Tuesday 7th January at 3pm and drive to the venue. The programme will finish on Saturday 18th
January 2025 at 11 am. We will organise a minibus to transport people back to the city centre.
Transport:
Nairobi does not have a very good bus system, so it is best to use local uber or bolt please
download the app before you go. If you feel adventurous you can use the local minibuses
(matatus) to get round. When you arrive it is best to take a taxi from the airport to your hotel or
the pickup point if you arrive on the programme start date. The airport has taxi services which
have a set price of around between £15-£20 to the centre of Nairobi which takes about 30-60
minutes depending on traffic or you can book an uber for a cheaper price.
Address Details:
The venue is in a conservation area with no proper roads so you cannot access this on your own
In case you have any difficulties, please contact
Patrick: +254 724514507
Susan: +254 724 679259
When you arrive you can purchase a local sim card at the phone shop in the airport so that you
pay local costs for your calls. You can also download MPESA app which makes it easier to make
payments for anything you want to purchase.
Money: Some countries do not stock Kenyan shillings so you have to order currency in advance
or change your money when you get to the airport in Nairobi. Most credit and debit cards work
so you can withdraw money from local ATM machines, or use MPESA app.
Please ensure that you have Travel Insurance in place before you depart.
Page 17 of 18
ACCOMMODATION (pre and post programme)
If you are interested in a safari there are plenty of local travel agents that can organise something
for you or if you do not have time you can book a day trip to the National Park which has all the
animals except elephants. If you are interested in the coast you can take a train to Mombasa
(about 6 hours) which has some beautiful beaches.
Here are some accommodation suggestions, all these hotels can be booked on tripadviser
Nairobi, Kenya
Kahama Hotel The Zehneiria by Srova Portico India
About £36 a night £84
Red Ruby Hotel Impala Hotel Parklands
£86 £60
Hamak Suites Hotel
£64
All these can be found and booked using [Link] however please look for accommodation
in Westlands area, which is a good area near the town centre. You can also use Air B&B if there
are a few of you who want to share.
Page 18 of 18