Class trips have always been a cornerstone of our community engagement. In rural communities across Kenya, children view their wild neighbours through a fraught lens. Some have never seen an elephant, while others associate them with frightening encounters or crop destruction. By introducing young students to Kenya’s natural world from the safety of a school bus, we are able to engage the next generation with their country’s natural heritage in a safe and accessible way. 

In any given year, we lead over 80 fully subsidised class field trips into Tsavo West National Park, and Tsavo East National Park, and other local wilderness areas. Each trip is guided by our Community Outreach Officer, a talented, charismatic leader who has a knack for fostering the next generation of conservationists.

We conduct community tree plantings throughout the year, supplying indigenous saplings to schools, government facilities, and other strategic areas that would benefit from reforestation. Saplings, which are nurtured in our tree nurseries, are donated at no cost to the community. 

We also collaborate with Eden Reforestation Projects on an ambitious tree-planting initiative along Kenya’s northern coast, aimed at regenerating its coastal mangrove forests. To date, over 13 million mangroves have been planted in Lamu.

In any given year, we donate over 10,000 seedlings to local communities. In time, they will flourish into tall, sturdy trees that provide much-needed shade and sequester carbon from the atmosphere.

In Kenya’s rural communities, many families struggle to adequately feed their children. Our school lunch programme, which supports learning institutions in underserved areas, is a direct response to these challenges. We provide balanced, nutritious ingredients that serve as a complete meal for students to enjoy at school.

Supported by the Chantecaille Conservation Foundation and Helen Danson, we distribute annual food supplies to over 80 schools in the Tsavo area, providing more than 16,000 schoolchildren with nutritious daily lunches.

The school lunch programme has received very positive feedback. Before its implementation, schools faced issues with under-enrollment, and some even closed early because children lacked the energy to focus on their studies. Teachers have reported that the programme has boosted student morale and increased attendance.

Access to good healthcare is a pervasive issue for Kenya’s rural communities. That is why we were honoured to help transform Mtito-Andei Sub-County Hospital into a state-of-the-art facility through the donation of a full suite of medical supplies and equipment.

Strategically located between two national parks — Tsavo East and Tsavo West — this community hospital is a crucial care centre in a remote and largely rural part of Kenya. These donations help save lives of all ages and enhance medical care in the Tsavo region.

Our ongoing support of the hospital includes funding three weekly water deliveries by bowser.

In our commitment to supporting the continued education of rural Kenyans, we proudly fund a scholarship programme in the Tsavo Conservation Area and Mwaluganje, ensuring gifted students have access to the education they deserve.

Water is a persistent challenge for rural communities in arid areas. While some schools collect water on a small scale, young students often have to carry water from home or pay for drinking water. In an effort to create sustainable, subsidised water sources, we unrolled our Chyulu Water Catchment Project in 2023, installing water catchment tanks at 15 schools in the Chyulu ecosystem. These tanks capture and store rainwater, which is then turned into potable drinking water.