The Winter school in Kenya, organised in collaboration with our joint partner Tangaza University, takes place from 11 to 18 of January 2026. Students of PhD Programme in Human Rights, Society, and Multi-level Governance will spend an immersive week researching a variety of topics, including environmental conflicts, indigenous rights, women human rights defenders and social inclusion, adopting a human rights perspective and approach to exchange ideas on their research topics. The program includes meetings with UNEP and UNESCO experts, members of civil society such as the International Peace Brigades, and representatives from the Naibosho and Nashulai conservancies to explore issues related to Maasai conflicts.

The aim of this experience is threefold:

• to shape identity and build community among fellow scholars;
• to provide students with valuable insights into the global challenges posed by conflicts between divergent local and global interests through experiential learning; and
• to enhance international academic collaboration, laying the groundwork for future careers.

As part of the doctoral programme's educational offering, the 6 ECTS Winter School is organised alternately in Italy or Kenya. Fully funded by the Centre for Human Rights (as a result of the competitive call “Shaping a World Class University”), this programme currently offers the opportunity PhD students from the 39th and 40th cycles to complete the mandatory three-month period abroad, including one month at the partner university, for research and learning activities. 

(Provisional) Programme 

11 January 
Meet-up in Nairobi

12 January 
PhD seminars, Tangaza University

Welcome Remarks

Dr. SO AKOTH, Director of postgraduate

Prof. Alberto Lanzavecchia, PhD Program in Human Rights, Society and Multi-level Governance

Plenary Session 1: Keynote Lecture by SO AKOTH (Tangaza University, Nairobi) “Critical Research Methods for Making Sense of Social Transformation in Africa”

Presentations of the PhD Student’s research

Mehmet Çağlar Akyiğit, Global Youth Visions: Pluralism and Consciousness for Eco-Social Justice

Barbara Rinaldi, The Role of Future Thinking in Supporting Adolescents in Planning Their Future Career Paths

Sofia Riva, Digital Memory and Diasporic Communities: a Human Rights Perspective on Data Vulnerability 

Anna Romanovych, Eco-Justice in Action: A study of the multilevel governance framework for addressing ecocide and climate change in conflict-affected regions based on the case study of Ukraine

Clelia Vettori, No Other Morality: The Role of Media and Propaganda in the Erasure of Palestine

Chenda Wu (吴辰达), The Labour Exploitation of Chinese Migrant Workers in Italy: 'Self-Exploitation' and Labour Law Compliance

Sara Lina Kamoun, Mine Action in Silos: Rethinking Post-Conflict Peacebuilding

Denise Zucchini, Peace and war concepts and attitudes for designing an inclusive and equitable future construction in Youth

Joyce Nyangweso, Integral empowerment of women survivors of human trafficking for sustainable development in Kenya 

Everlyne Nyaboke, An Evaluation of Youth Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Environmental Conservation in Narok County, Kenya

13 January 
Morning 
Lake Turkana current situation - UNESCO endangered site
Nairobi, Meeting with UNESCO Headquarters (t.b.c.) 

Afternoon
Visit at the United Nations Headquarters in Nairobi 

14 January 
Visit to Kisaju, Kajiado, Tangaza farm field trip. Agroecology and international cooperation as partner of the L’Osteria Volante ETS in implementing the project “KMKU - Kisaju Maji Kwa Ustahimilivu” (funded by Regione del Veneto Decreto n. 37 del 15/04/2025) targeting SDG 6.a, 13.1 and ultimately SDG 2.3.

15 - 16 January 
Indigenous rights and Maasai conflict issues
Meetings with Naibosho and Nashulai conservancies. Impact of national parks and protected areas on the Maasai people: how these protected areas have disrupted traditional pastoralism and the transhumant lifestyle of the Maasai through displacement from the land, grazing restrictions and cultural commodification. The purpose of the field visit is to evaluate sustainable tourism initiatives that respect Maasai culture, guided by frameworks such as the Larrakia Declaration (Lanzavecchia & Riboldi, 2025).

17 January 
Return to Nairobi and restitution meeting