Leadership and Community Engagement: Kenya

Camp Tsavo gives you the chance to experience life in the real African wilderness. Surrounded by the picturesque Marungu Hills that lie close to the world famous Tsavo National Parks, this area is famed for its wildlife and providing a safe haven for elephants, lions, cheetahs and other amazing animals.

There are currently 720 students enrolled at Sasenyi Primary School where facilities are woefully inadequate; there are only ten functioning classrooms and eight teachers. The infrastructure and educational facilities are very dilapidated and erosion from seasonal flooding threatens the structure of the classroom foundations, making them liable to collapse. Additionally, literacy levels among the poor are in the lowest bracket in Kenya, with as few as 37 per cent of females possessing basic literacy skills. The camp itself is situated in the heart of the charming local village, where you will experience authentic African culture and hospitality so welcoming that you won't want to leave. Accommodation consists of traditional bandas & tents with comfy mattresses & bedding. Long drop toilets, showers & sinks. While at camp, three healthy, well balanced and tasty meals will be provided daily. For example, toast, sausage and omelette for breakfast; pasta, chicken stew/curry with chapatis and vegetables for lunch/dinner, and fruit. The signature dish is called Pilau (Swahili local food).

"We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience" - John DeweyOn every evening of the program, we will set time aside to update our Reflection Journal andshare thoughts and impressions that have come to the fore in the course of the day. Available at the camp, are 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.

Take the short drive to Sasyeni 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. Good schools and teaching 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 groups 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 start 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 main focus is centered around access to a quality education for local children. We will be working alongside Fundi's (local tradesmen) to develop and improve infrastructure at Sasyeni Primary School.

This evening, we will have a student focused discussion of Leadership, its challenges, models and aims. The students will be asked to think about these issues particularly in the context of their current environment and activities. What has worked, what hasn't? Are we on schedule for our own aims? How could we do things differently?

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.

Of great importance is to reflect on what the group has achieved, and we ask the students to lead a discussion focused on that question - particularly looking at the service and learning elements of the time in camp.

You will spend the next two days putting the finishing touches to your service project at Sasyeni.

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.

On your final day there will be a gathering whereby your group can handover the work you have done to students and teachers. There will be a proud moment of reflection as you look at what you have achieved and the positive impact you have made.

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 and hundreds of bird species.

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. 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.

It's time to say goodbye to Camp Tsavo and transfer to your next home (journey approximately 4 to 5 hours). Our Beach Camp boasts one of the most spectacular camp locations, just a 2 minute walk from the award-winning Diani beach. Enjoy waking up to the sounds and sights of the sea and relaxing in the comfy social area after a day of activities. Our base for the two nights will be at Diani Beach. While here, breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be included. Accommodation consists of traditional bandas, bunk beds with comfy mattresses and bedding. Modern showers and sinks and flushing toilets. Diani Beach is located on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya and boasts sparkling white sands and lush greenery, famed for its coral reefs and black and white colobus monkeys. Upon arrival you can enjoy some free time to relax on the beach or buy some local souvenirs.

Spend the day learning about the key issues facing our oceans today. You will gain practical experience collecting data and learning about various research projects and methods - an incredible insight for students passionate about environmental issues.

Visit the nearby Marine Education Centre where you will be given a tour of the facility while you learn more about the vital marine conservation initiatives that we are working on in this area.

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

Please note that depending on flight connections, you may arrive home a day later and overnight en-route.