Leadership and Community Engagement in Kenya

Take the short drive to Itinyi or Kale Primary School where students will be given a briefing on daily school life and an overview of the ongoing projects. Without access to a good quality education, children don't get a fair chance in life. A good school environment can open the doors to fulfilling, productive and well-paid employment, helping to break the cycle of poverty. In Camp Tsavo we are working in collaboration with the surrounding community and an important part of the process of identifying the group’s goals is a broader understanding of the problems faced by the area and our combined aims in tackling them. Through that understanding, leading to goal identification and student led planning, the group starts to create and then work towards their own objectives. The group then has some time to think deeply about their goals for the week; in a framed, student led discussion forum.

The group then has some time to think deeply about their accomplishments for the week and also the work left to do; in a framed, student led discussion forum. In Camp Caño Negro we are working in collaboration with the surrounding community and an important part of the process of identifying the group's goals is a broader understanding of the problems faced by the area and our combined aims in tackling them. Through that understanding, leading to goal identification and student led planning, the group reflects on their work and the goals of the community in a broader sense.

Our focus is centered around access to quality education for local children. We will be working alongside Fundi's (local tradesmen) to develop and improve the infrastructure at Itinyi and Kale Primary Schools. All projects are ongoing and, in collaboration with our volunteers, we work on them year-round to ensure a responsible and sustainable approach in all that we do. Your group could be starting a new project or continuing with a project in progress. This could involve building or restoring a school classroom, increasing ablution facilities, working on improvements to other vital facilities within the school and making desks.

The group then has some time to think deeply about their accomplishments for the week and also the work left to do; in a framed, student led discussion forum. In Camp Caño Negro we are working in collaboration with the surrounding community and an important part of the process of identifying the group's goals is a broader understanding of the problems faced by the area and our combined aims in tackling them. Through that understanding, leading to goal identification and student led planning, the group reflects on their work and the goals of the community in a broader sense.

Our focus is centered around access to quality education for local children. We will be working alongside Fundi's (local tradesmen) to develop and improve the infrastructure at Itinyi and Kale Primary Schools. All projects are ongoing and, in collaboration with our volunteers, we work on them year-round to ensure a responsible and sustainable approach in all that we do. Your group could be starting a new project or continuing with a project in progress. This could involve building or restoring a school classroom, increasing ablution facilities, working on improvements to other vital facilities within the school and making desks.

The group then has some time to think deeply about their accomplishments for the week and also the work left to do; in a framed, student led discussion forum. In Camp Caño Negro we are working in collaboration with the surrounding community and an important part of the process of identifying the group's goals is a broader understanding of the problems faced by the area and our combined aims in tackling them. Through that understanding, leading to goal identification and student led planning, the group reflects on their work and the goals of the community in a broader sense.

Our focus is centered around access to quality education for local children. We will be working alongside Fundi's (local tradesmen) to develop and improve the infrastructure at Itinyi and Kale Primary Schools. All projects are ongoing and, in collaboration with our volunteers, we work on them year-round to ensure a responsible and sustainable approach in all that we do. Your group could be starting a new project or continuing with a project in progress. This could involve building or restoring a school classroom, increasing ablution facilities, working on improvements to other vital facilities within the school and making desks.

Camps has a series of interactive lectures, that cover subjects such as Stakeholder Engagement, and Citizen Science. These sessions can be run following discussion with the school of the topics considered most appropriate to the group.

Our focus is centered around access to quality education for local children. We will be working alongside Fundi's (local tradesmen) to develop and improve the infrastructure at Itinyi and Kale Primary Schools. All projects are ongoing and, in collaboration with our volunteers, we work on them year-round to ensure a responsible and sustainable approach in all that we do. Your group could be starting a new project or continuing with a project in progress. This could involve building or restoring a school classroom, increasing ablution facilities, working on improvements to other vital facilities within the school and making desks.

Camps has a series of interactive lectures, that cover subjects such as Stakeholder Engagement, and Citizen Science. These sessions can be run following discussion with the school of the topics considered most appropriate to the group.

Visit the stunning Tsavo East National Park, one of the world's largest game reserves, home to a variety of wildlife including lion, elephant, zebra, giraffe, cheetah and hundreds of bird species. We will also stop at a Masai Village on the way back and visit their culture.

Today you will meet the Tumaini Women's Group, a local community cooperative led by a hugely inspirational figure, Mama Mercy. You will be told the moving story of how Mama Mercy founded her first women's group over 8 years ago, overcoming extraordinary challenges to achieve female equality, empowerment and a brighter future for herself and other women within the Maungu community. You will learn about the micro finance initiatives that the women have established to create income for themselves and you will spend the morning working with them to learn traditional skills such as, basket weaving, jewelry making and cultivation of local crops.

Visit the Maasai, the smallest tribe in Kenya but famously known around the world and the only tribe that still practices the traditional African bush style of living. You will learn about their fascinating way of life and enjoy some ceremonial traditional songs and dances.

Today you will contribute to vital conservation initiatives at Rukinga wildlife sanctuary. You will learn about the issues caused by human-wildlife conflict and the most effective ways to combat this. You will work with local people to help to make elephant deterrent fences (the method regarded by the locals as the best way to deter elephants from their farms without harming the animals). You will also participate in an educational environmental workshop, making paper out of elephant dung to bring a source of income to the community Camps has a series of interactive lectures, that cover subjects such as Threats to Biodiversity. These sessions can be run following discussion with the school of the topics considered most appropriate to the group.

Set off for a guided adventure trek to the Marungu hills where you will have a picnic lunch in ancient caves and enjoy the panoramic views of the Rukinga ranch, once at the top enjoy breath-taking views of Tsavo. Your guide will teach you bush survival skills which have been practiced for hundreds of years, such as making a bush shelter, making fire and Bushmen bow and arrow shooting.

Camp Muhaka will quickly become your home away from home. With stylish traditional buildings and a great social scene, there’s plenty to keep you busy. Being in the heart of the village also has its perks; all your project sites are only a short walk away and you can walk with the children to and from school so you’ll be a local in no time!

During your time you will be looking at marine wildlife, habitats and conservation and you will get the opportunity to gain experience in collecting data and learning about various research projects and methods. Throughout you will learn about the importance of the oceans, waste management, sustainability and how the program helps to conserve the environment in daily lives as well as find out about all the various conservation efforts around Africa.

Throughout the program, we will set time aside time for discussion, guided reflection, and time to write reflections on self-discovery and what we have learned. "We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience" - John Dewey