Education Program Update - End of Term One at Kanzi Academy

Term One has ended at Kanzi Academy, and with it a successful season of learning and discovery.  As the welcome rains of November transformed the savannah from dusty yellow to lush green, the students enjoyed trekking in the Chyulu Hills and exploring the great outdoors.  The Kanzi teachers recognize the exceptional opportunities afforded to a school in the bush and incorporate nature into their lesson plans, building a learning environment that utilizes both the classroom and the world outside.  Experiential learning is key at the Academy, where students strive to understand their role in the community as well as their relationship with the environment.

Class One lines up for a hike in the Chyulu Hills.

 
In the second half of the term, Class 3 explored the theme of "leadership" in spiritual education class, addressing such probing questions as "What makes a good leader?"  Responsibility, trust, connection, tolerance, and empathy were all discussed in detail through debates and moments of reflection.  The facets of leadership were also demonstrated in fun, practical activities such as the "banana operation."

The students continued to benefit from advanced technology in the classroom, utilizing both laptops and a state-of-the-art SMART Board.  These tools enhance the learning experience and prepare students to succeed in an increasingly digital world.
 

Class Three hard at work on their laptops

Kanzi Academy students use interactive technology to complement their lessons.

  
The students enjoyed a musical treat when violinist Barbara Stoddard performed a private concert at the Academy.  The children learned about the parts of a violin, the bow, and the tuning process and also listened to different styles of music.  Meanwhile, in art class, the students had a great time making bracelets and "Kanzi Bears."
 

Students made "Kanzi Bears" as a craft project.

   
At the end of the term, the students got into the Christmas spirit by decorating the Christmas tree at Campi ya Kanzi's Tembo House.  The savannah-themed tree is decked with lions, zebras, giraffes, gourds, and small African dolls.  As the students and teachers head home for the holidays, they wish a joyous season of celebration to all!
 

Merry Christmas from Kanzi Academy!

Conservation Program Update - Rangeland Monitoring Workshop

In MWCT's efforts to preserve the grassland ecosystem of Kuku Group Ranch, it is just as important to protect the vegetation as it is to protect the wildlife.  Plant life forms the foundation of the food chain, feeding insects and birds as well as the larger grazers and browsers that are hunted by predators.  The grasses are also vital to the goats and cattle herded by the Maasai.  MWCT is working with the community to develop a rangeland management plan that includes vegetation monitoring and rotational grazing.

MWCT Conservation Managers Lana Müller and Dirk van der Goes recently conducted an in-house training for ten staff members to teach them about vegetation monitoring.  Participants received basic information about the ecology and functioning of grassland systems.  They also learned to recognize indicators of rangeland deterioration and rangeland improvement.  Finally, they learned why rangeland monitoring is important and what it entails.  In the afternoon, a practical vegetation monitoring exercise was conducted in the field.  The workshop was educational and enjoyable for all participants.

Conservation Manager Lana Müller taught workshop participants
about rangeland monitoring and its importance.

After Lana's presentation, participants took a written test
to demonstrate their understanding of the material.

Conservation Manager Dirk van der Goes trained participants
in the field by demonstrating rangeland monitoring methods.

The participants put their new knowledge to use by completing
a practical rangeland monitoring exercise in an overgrazed area.

Conservation Program Update - Rangeland Management Plan

The MWCT conservation team recently conducted a rangeland baseline survey in Kuku Group Ranch to assess grass cover.  Results of the survey showed that most of Kuku Group Ranch suffers from low grass cover and overgrazing.  MWCT will combat this problem by developing a participatory rangeland management plan in partnership with the local Maasai community.  This plan will aim to  prevent overgrazing, to reduce erosion, and to increase productivity of semi-arid land.

Rangeland baseline survey results: This map of Kuku Group Ranch shows the percentage of grass cover in the different rangeland survey plots. The number indicated above each pie chart is the measured percentage of grass cover in that specific plot.

Richard Hatfield and John Oitaos of Natural Capital East Africa are collaborating with MWCT to develop the rangeland management plan.  In mid-October, Richard, John, and the MWCT conservation team held a three-day workshop to lay out the details of the plan to the community.

John Oitaos from Natural Capital East Africa taught Kuku community members
about the different mechanisms of a holistic grazing management plan.

MWCT is also setting up a grass seed bank near the town of Kuku to reintroduce grass to an overgrazed area and to produce grass seed that can be sown in other areas.  A Maasai women’s group will be engaged to manage the area and to harvest and sell the seeds.  In this way, the project will empower local women, build their capacity in the community, and provide them with income through grass seed sales.  Because animal husbandry is essential to the Maasai way of life, MWCT is partnering with the community to improve rangeland management and to secure a healthy future for the pastoralist community.

The contrasting rangeland conditions on Kuku Group Ranch: Overgrazed rangeland in Samai (left)
and the healthy rangeland in the Chyulu Hills (right).

Health Program Update - Kuku Sports Tournament

The third annual Kuku Sports Tournament was a great success!  Hosted in Iltilal, the tournament brought together 285 youth and coaches from Kuku Group Ranch, Nairobi, and Magadi.  This fun-filled, community-building event promotes exercise and sportsmanship while nurturing local athletic talent.  It also provides an excellent platform for health education and advocacy.  The theme of this year’s tournament was “Improving Reproductive Heath, Hygiene, and Sanitation.”  When not on the field, participants learned about the prevention of HIV/AIDS and the eradication of female genital mutilation (FGM).  The tournament was jointly sponsored by the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, AMREF Health Africa, and Shokut Naretoi Community Project (a partner of Dorcas Aid International).

Twelve football (soccer) teams and six volleyball teams participated in the tournament, competing in a total of twenty-six football matches and fifteen volleyball matches.  In addition to the 285 participants, ten referees officiated and crowds of spectators gathered to watch.  The tournament began with a colorful opening ceremony and lasted for three days, with game play following a knock-out structure.

On the sidelines, a health station offered voluntary HIV testing and counseling services.  In the evenings, tournament participants attended health forums in their residential quarters.  One forum focused on female genital mutilation, while the other focused on responsible sexual behavior.

At the end of the tournament, organizers crowned first, second, and third place winners for both football and soccer.  All teams that placed received a trophy.  In the end, however, the ultimate winner is the community.  A Maasai elder hoisted a trophy on behalf of all to represent the importance of this group effort.  Physical activity, good sportsmanship, and health advocacy are essential to the well-being of all young people in Kuku Group Ranch.

MWCT and Absolute Travel Run the New York Marathon!

We are thrilled and proud to announce that Absolute Travel has chosen to join together with the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust this year to run the 2014 New York Marathon!  

The 2013 MWCT Marathon team!

Absolute Travel, named Travel + Leisure's World's Best Tour Operator, has put together an incredibly impressive team of 8 runners (all AT staff!) that will run alongside team MWCT at the beginning of November! 

 Joining from Kuku Group Ranch this year to run the marathon will be MWCT President and Chairman, Samson Parashina, returning marathon participant (and warrior), Jacob, and a fellow local warrior, Phillip!

An incredible amount of thanks needs to be given to Absolute Travel. Your dedication to join in on efforts of sustainability of conservation as ambassadors of of the planet is extraordinary, and on behalf of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, and the Maasai community of Kuku Group Ranch thank you for joining in to raise awareness and funds for the efforts and programs of MWCT. The outcome will have sustainable lasting benefits to thousands of Maasai and we could not be more happy for our joint action! See you in New York! 

The 2009 Marathon Team in the Chyulu Hills - in 2009 MWCT successfully raised
over $1 million towards Conservation, Health, and Education Programs!

Absolute Travel is extending tremendous outreach in hopes to raise $40 000 for MWCT (incredible!), you can support the 8 members of the Absolute Travel team in their efforts by visiting their CrowdRise page here!

Conservation Program Update - MWCT Rangers Go Digital!

MWCT Community Rangers have been pioneers in working with the SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) conservation software for over a year. The implementation of systematic patrol planning, data collection, reporting and evaluation has improved ranger effectiveness significantly. A larger area has been covered by ranger patrols, the relationship with the community has improved, resulting in more information sharing regarding illegal activities and hence leading to a higher number of arrests. At the same time, charcoal burning and forest destruction decreased and poaching activity remained very limited on the group ranch. Elsewhere in Kenya poaching activity has increased tremendously in the same period and forest destruction is still a big issue.

MWCT Conservation Program Ranger Force

Currently, MWCT Community Rangers are further increasing their effectiveness by using Nexus 7 tablets (donated to us by Google) and a specific data collection application. This allows the rangers to improve the quality and accuracy of their collected data and do away with the more time consuming and complicated paper-based system. An easy pictogram based system is used to even allow illiterate rangers to operate the tablet!

Community Ranger utilizes the new innovative application on his tablet!

At this point, one ranger sector is fully trained and the one-week pilot is a big success! Soon training will be organized to introduce the digital data collection system to our entire ranger force. In this way, MWCT remains one of the leading ranger organizations in Kenya when it comes to ranger effectiveness and the use of new technologies!