Conservation Program Update - Wildlife Pays Success Story

Although many people come to spend and visit a significant amount of time in Maasai land, many do not understand the importance and value of livestock herds as well as the value of living in the traditional Maasai way.

Recently, our Conservation Program became aware of a scenario in which 5 grown cow calves were killed near Olpukai swamp by lions in the daylight, with the herders present and nearby. Two lions were involved in the killing (one of the male collared lions and his companions), and the herders were standing very nearby, but unfortunately could not herd the calves away quickly enough to save them.

Olpukai Swamp - location of the incident

Historically and traditionally, the reaction would have resulted in a direct killing in retaliation, or a pursue of a lion hunt of these two lions. However, it is very clear that there is some major success to report in this story. The Wildlife Pays program with MWCT seeks to teach the Maasai that by not killing lions, by saving them in the ecosystem, that they will receive benefits. Through this program, with any loss of livestock due to predation with no negligence on the side of the herder and the boma (boma being a certain size, and herder acting appropriately) a compensation is paid to the owner of the affected livestock.

Livestock and wildlife grazing and living simultaneously at the swamp

To many Maasai, livestock is the sole source of income for the entire family. In this scenario, 5 cows is worth a compensation payment of 100 000 KSH. For this family to have a loss of five animals it was a very large detriment, despite the repayment. It is a large success for the Wildlife Pays program to know that the Maasai are compliant in not killing these lions, as they are aware of the negative consequences of a lion killing on themselves and their community,  as well as the potential economic compensation they may receive.

Conservation Program Update - April Lion Collaring

Earlier last week, the Conservation Program set out on their second lion collaring expedition! The purpose of this exercise was to replace the collars of the 2 male lions collared in early December 2013. Unfortunately, these collars had stopped transmitting the GPS function to track the lions location - so the team received new collars, and scheduled the week to locate these lions using the telemetry capabilities (pictured below) and replace their collars with the properly functioning ones. 

MWCT Simba Scouts using the telemetry tracking device to locate the lions prior to the collaring exercise

The team was out for 3 full nights last week. The first night two big males approached the car, but they were much too far away for the vet to dart them. The second night had four lions approaching the cars (two males and 2 females). They also did not come close to the car! 

On the final night, no lions showed up (only an elephant and a ton of hyenas and jackal), although they did hear some roaring in the distance. 

The positioned car, camouflaged, ready to begin the calling station

So unfortunately, it had been three long days and nights without success. However, we think that the reasoning of this was due to the very bright moon, and the animals did not dare to come close. It was nearly a full moon so it was very bright at night - the lions could not only see the team more clearly, but were aware that the team could also see them due to the light, so they were very cautious in coming closer, despite our calling station and effort to camouflage the cars! 

Working to camouflage the vehicles!

Fortunately, the vet has agreed to come back for another 3 days at the end of May. The moon will not be as bright during this time, so we are incredibly hopeful for positive results as these functioning collars are incredibly crucial for our efforts to protect this incredibly vital lion population in Kuku Group Ranch! 

One of the aspects of tracking lions deep in the wilderness - punctured tires! 

Health Program Update - March Efforts

As usual the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust Health Program team has been working hard. The month of March had them extending their efforts all across Kuku Group Ranch.

The routine health outreaches continued into the month of March, including an outreach to Kuku in which 85 patients were attended to. Further, a new outreach was initiated in the month of March - a mobile laboratory. The MWCT lab technician, whom is permanently stationed at Iltilal Health Center, travelled 25 kilometres away to the Langata Dispensary. Here he managed to do complete prenatal testing for 7 women, as well as a total of 5 tests from the outpatient clinic. The objective of this mobile outreach is to increase the diagnostic capacity of all the health facilities within Kuku, and also increase revenues in order to allow the laboratory to become self-sustained.

As a part of ensuring access and continuity of health services by residents of Kuku Group Ranch, Dr. Gabriel travelled to Langata dispensary and stayed there for 4 days.

The second round of the Tetanus Campaign continued in March. As you may remember, MWCT has partnered with the Ministry of Health to immunize all women of reproductive age. The Iltilal Health Centre Team managed to exceed the set target of 900 women, and immunized a total of 997 women at the end of the campaign!

Lining up for the Tetanus vaccination

Some exciting news about our Community Health Volunteers! The new group of 15 community health volunteers attached to the Iltilal Health Centre completed their 10-day training at the Marla on March 7! Certificates were awarded by the District Medical Office of Health.

New Community Health Workers

Education Program Update - Another Term at Kanzi Academy

Jambo! And so another half term comes to an end at the Kanzi Academy. All of the children have finished their final exams and have done well as expected. This has left a number of school jobs and fun to be had!

We enjoyed a bush walk earlier this week, which saw us walk some distance to where we capture all of our rainwater here at Campi ya Kanzi. It was very interesting for the children to see where the water collection begins, and then follow the path down to the "bladders" which store all of the water. Practically identifying with where our water comes from and reliance on the rain, as well as understand how and where it is stored, is vitally important. We cannot simply leave raps running here at school or Camp - every drop of water is precious.

Viewing the water catchment from afar! 

We also made traditional "shakers". It is a wonderful, cultural experience for the children to know how to utilize what is around them in order to make something worthwhile and fun. As ever, during life at KA, it is not just about the "end result", but the process we go through when doing things. Both the bush walk and shaker-making prompted the use of new skills, new vocabulary, and heightened awareness. We worked as a team and looking out for, and after each other - very valuable life-skills I'm sure you'd agree!

Students making "shakers"

So, as the end of the week is upon us, the children head home and so do we, the staff team. We return to school in three weeks to begin the third and final term of this school year! Time sure does fly! Karibu tena!

- Head Teacher, Sarah

Head Teacher, Sarah, with Class 2

Health Program Update - Community Health Workers & Distribution of Sanitary Pads

As part of our Kuku Group Ranch-wide Community Health Worker project, we re-established the community health workers at Iltilal Health Centre. the first meeting with the community hospital committee was held on February 3, and the proposal to enrol the community health workers was passed.

The second meeting was held the following week and the names of the proposed candidates were presented for adoption. A total of 16 community health workers were selected; three of these from the Moilo/Olpusare area. All candidates presented themselves for interviews and briefing on the roles of community health workers. These newly selected CHW's are currently undergoing induction training conducted by the Ministry of Health and sponsored by MWCT.

Meeting with potential community health workers in Iltilal

In the month of February, we also started a rotational CHW forum at the four health facilities within Kuku Group Ranch. This forum brings the community health workers from a particular health centre together for a brief training and joint meal. The purpose of these forums is to foster unity among the CHW's and motivate them towards community health development! They also provide MWCT with a forum to articulate its' health goals for the local community.

The Health Program has a big task this month; thanks for Dr. Michael Brownstein's generous donation, we have been able to distribute reusable cloth sanitary pads to all schoolgirls on Kuku Group Ranch. The objective of the project is to ensure girls are not missing school during menstruation because they do not have the means to purchase sanitary pads. Each girl is given 4 cloth pads (lasting over 1 year), a bar of soap, and a plastic bag to store their pads!

Shokut School Girls

The primary schools in Iltilal, Moilo, Shokut, Marla, Inkisanjani, and Langata were visited this month. We teach them about menstruation, and show them how to use and clean their pads. They were also given to the teachers so that they can assist the children.  

Marlal school girl with cloth sanitary pads

Education Program Update - Kanzi Academy is Back!

Welcome back to the second half term 2 at the Kanzi Academy!

We have all returned in good spirits and full of joy - ready to learn, have fun, and contribute to our immediate environment, and learn ways of living that will affect and improve the future of our planet.

Here at Kanzi Academy the fundamental teaching is incredibly important. Every child should have a firm foundation on which to build his or her educational future. However, here at KA, we beleive that each and every child also has the right to learning with integrity. By that, mean that learning has to be applicable to life, holistic, and purposeful.

As teachers, we need to show the children "the way". We give them tools for learning... but not everyone hits the nail with a hammer the way! Therefore, our "leaders of tomorrow" have to hone their skills and learn that there are many different strategies that can be used to solve any given problem. The delight, as a teacher, is in observing the processes and choices the children use to get there.

This half term is a short one at Kanzi Academy. I do not want to say that this half term is "packed with all the usual learning"... I would rather say it is "packed with all of the unusual learning". Let's be different; let's break the mould!

Stay tuned to the blog for more updates and pictures to follow! Karibu tena!

- Head Teacher Sarah

Health Program Update - Outreaches, Dental Improvements & Project Osiligi

The Health Program has continually been extremely busy expanding its tremendous efforts across Kuku Group Ranch, especially during this past month of February!

On February 7, a Medical Outreach and Cervical Cancer Screening took place at Olorika. 26 patients attended the medical outreach for curative care, 7 received family planning, 13 children were immunized, 4 children were immunized, 4 women received antenatal care, and 56 children were dewormed! Further, 11 women attended the talk on women's cancer and family planning!

Sam and community health worker demonstrating self breast exams at Olorika Dispensary

On February 10, another Medical Outreach and Cervical Cancer Screening occurred at Kuku village. A total of 50 patients attended the outreach. Caroline, a Maasai nurse, facilitated a talk about women's cancer to an audience of 21 women. Also on this day, we donated a OneWorld Football to the children at Kuku Primary School!

Football donated to the children of Kuku Primary School

The start of 2014 commenced with a donation of a dental chair to the Iltilal Health Centre. The work to operationalize this chair started the first week of February with a visit by the District dentist Dr. Thuo, accompanied by the Loitokitok District Hospital Biomedical engineer Mr. Herman. They approved of the room where the chair would be stationed and gave a list of requirements including drainage, water supply, and electrical fittings that need to be installed. Currently, the water supply and drainage system work has been completed and we await the electrical components. We are very excited for this addition!

Gabriel with district dentist and biomedical engineer

The ongoing Project Osiligi, an income-generating project for the women of Kuku Group Ranch, has generated approximately $1350 in revenue for the women! The women from Kuku, Iltilal, Olorika, and Langata villages have collectively made 433 bracelets and 138 pairs of earrings for Campi ya Kanzi! This project is truly making a tremendous impact on these women! 

Beadwork artisans from Langata village