We attribute much of our success as a wildlife conservancy to the partnerships we have with organizations both locally and abroad, and with the surrounding communities.
One such partner is Woodpecker International Education Consulting of Beijing, China. Through their Sino-African Education Hope Program, they have recently installed 23,000 USD worth of solar panels and equipment to Mwituria Secondary School, located to the north west of Ol Pejeta.
The mixed day secondary school is extremely remote, and community members here frequently struggle with human-wildlife conflict. Students walk an average of 15 km to school every day, and are often in danger of crossing paths with potentially dangerous predators, or a startled herd of elephants. What’s more, when they get to school, students are faced with a scarce water supply and no electricity to assist them in their learning, despite efforts by the school’s management to get on the national grid. The lack of electricity is the biggest hindrance towards the school’s ambition to become a boarding facility, which would be of great assistance to the children that have to travel such long distances.
And yet, these challenges have done little to suppress the students’ passion and thirst for learning. Working with Ol Pejeta, the community has become deeply committed not only to the education of its children but also to the conservation of wildlife. Solutions have been devised to better protect children on their walk to school, without harming wildlife, and now, thanks to the Sino-African Education Hope Program, sustainable and free electricity is lighting up the dark classrooms.
The installation of solar power in the school means longer study hours for determined students, and increased efficiency of school operations. Some students have even been trained in the installation and maintenance of solar equipment – skills that came in handy with the students working hand in hand with the Ol Pejeta logistics team for the successful completion of the project.
For more information about this project and our Community Development Programme, please contact our Fundraising and Grants Administrator: ambrose.njagi@olpejetaconservancy.org.