Health Program Update: New Equipment and Education Enhancement

The Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust Health Team has had a busy and successful 2015 thus far!

Health outreaches to remote areas of Kuku Group Ranch are of key importance to ensure continued adequate and accessible health services to community members. Since January, a total of three outreaches have been conducted, two in-facility outreaches to Langata Dispensary, and one to the commnity of Moilo. A total of 80 patients were tended to in these outreaches, and a total of 35 mobile laboratory tests were completed.

MWCT is proud to announce, that with support from the Ian-Hicks Foundation, the installation of a semi-automatic biochemistry analyzer in Iltilal Health Centre has been completed. This new machine will enable the clinicians at the facility to conduct a wide range of kidney and liver function tests. This is a massive milestone in MWCT's goal of providing access to quality health care to the local community. This machine will be crucial in the follow-up of patients on chronic medication as those on treatment for Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS.

MWCT Lab Technician, Felix, with the new biochemistry analyzer

Felix and Eric (MoH Nurse) very happy with the new technology!

MWCT Health Team organized the first women health seminar at Kuku Village. Dr. Gabriel and the resident nursing officer educated 18 community women on breast and cervical cancer. Topics discussed during the seminar included: what is cancer, signs and symptoms, and preventative strategies!

Women in Kuku gather to learn about breast and cervical cancer

Education Program Update: Another Term at the Kanzi Academy

Jambo! Happy New Year from Kanzi Academy! Everyone returned to school revived and refreshed after the Christmas break, ready to begin 2015 in earnest.

It has been a wonderful half term. The children began their year with a trip to a local shamba (farm) here on Kuku Group Ranch. They learned how crops grow, investigated the requirements of seasonal planting, and even did some basket weaving!

Class 1 hard at work

All the students continue to progress well with their academic studies. However, Kanzi Academy is focused on more than just academic success. We emphasize the importance of effort both inside and outside the classroom. We also connect to the environment around us and reflect on our need of it. This, in turn, prompts much discussion and learning.

Class 3 concentrates on their art project

Teamwork is an important ethic of the Academy as well. As such, the students of Class 3 have continued to develop team building skills, reflective practice, and peer-to-peer support. They have also been researching and learning about Gandhi, an inspirational and interesting leader who spread the message of peace. We will continue this unit after our mid-term break.

All students enjoying their surrounding environment in PE

Class 1 are settling into a more formal style of learning and are demonstrating greater responsibility for their own learning needs. Teachers do not think for the students here at Kanzi Academy; instead we encourage all the children to be free thinkers. As adults, our job is to guide and direct. The results are often organic and overwhelmingly creative. When children are involved in their own learning, we get very excited!

From all of us here at Academy, we say "kwaheri" (goodbye) and look forward to updating you again soon.
- Sarah and the Kanzi Academy Team

A fantastic photo of Head Teacher, Sarah, with Class 1 and Class 3!

Conservation Program Update: Grass Seed Bank Project Update

The Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, together in partnership with donor A New Course, are establishing a grass bank for seed production near Kuku village, in the centre of Kuku Group Ranch. Currently, a team of local Maasai are in the works of preparing the fertile land by carefully ploughing the open areas, not to disturb the existing flora. The installation of the structural components, posts and stakes, for the solar fence to enclose the grass seed bank has been completed, supervised by a craftsman employed by MWCT.

The location (red point) of the 43 acre Grass Seed Bank near Kuku village on Kuku Group Ranch

A community meeting was held to inform the community about the grass seed project and it's potential benefits. The community members of Kuku greatly welcomed the project and participated in the site selection for the 43 acre grass seed bank.

Local community members assist in constructing the solar fence of the grass seed bank. Commitment and hard work is required from a number of community members to ensure a smooth initiation of the project

All of the required equipment has arrived at the site and is installed. The infrastructure for the fence has been fully installed, and the wiring for the fence will be completed once the land has been fully prepared in the coming weeks.

The gate for the grass seed bank ready to be installed

15 women from the local women's group are to be educated on the creation and management of grass banks for seed production in the next week. First, the women will be active in preparing the terrain and filling the existing erosion gullies with rocks and dead plant material. After this, the purchased Horse-tail grass (Chloris roxburghiana), Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) and Masai love-grass (Eragrotis superba) seeds will be sown in the areas before the next rains in March - May 2015.

Installed corner posts for the grass bank

This project will not only directly benefit the women groups through generating an income from selling seeds and harvesting grass, but it will also create awareness for the protection and restoration of rangelands and contribute to MWCT's greater ecosystem restoration and rangeland management program. This model has the potential to be replaced on a broader scale in the ecosystem and the produced seeds can be used to reclaim heavily degraded grasslands.

\We look forward to continuing to update you on the progress of meetings, preparations, and developments of this very exciting project!

The land is ready and eager to be ploughed!