In 2003, the Government of Kenya declared education free for all citizens. As this bold move improved access to opportunity for children and youth, the influx of new students also highlighted the lack of resources that challenge schools in Kenya.
A 2010 report by UNESCO showed that in Kenya, 1 million children and youth remain out of school, and over 7.8 million youth and adults find it difficult to read and write. Schools continue to lack teachers, adequate infrastructure, textbooks, and other learning resources.
In rural communities around Lewa, children encounter challenges related to receiving a quality education in schools that lack adequate resources.
Lewa invests in education to foster positive impacts on conservation and promote positive changes in attitudes and behaviours. Access to education provides opportunities beyond those that only depend on finite natural resources. Education also provides the best platform for us to extend the benefits of conservation to neighbouring communities.
Our Response
The Lewa Education Programme is committed to enhancing access to quality education, which in turn expands individuals access to economic opportunities. Our aim is to cultivate a new generation of environmental stewards who are equipped to contribute positively to their communities and the natural world.
Concretely, Lewa augments its programmes in conservation education and student scholarships with innovative school programmes that facilitate holistic learning and development.
Infrastructure
Curriculum Development
Lewa works closely with the Ministry of Education to ensure that its curriculum aligns with national guidelines.
This ensures that students receive a comprehensive and relevant education. To supplement the national curriculum, Lewa develops engaging supplementary materials that provide additional resources for students.
Digital Literacy
Lewa’s digital literacy program is driven by a passionate team of young individuals committed to bringing the benefits of digital technology to local communities.
In partnership with the Government of Kenya, Lewa equips schools with essential technology like computers, tablets, and projectors, facilitating the seamless integration of technology into the learning experience.
This initiative empowers educators and students with the tools needed for modern learning and academic success. As of 2024, Lewa’s digital literacy program supports 27 schools, reaching over 8,000 students weekly.
Reading Programme
To address low reading levels in schools in Northern Kenya, Lewa organized a mobile library to reach schools that alarmingly fall behind national average reading performance. The Lewa team started the program by carrying books in backpacks to hard-to-reach areas, and then training teachers to conduct reading sessions proven to effectively improve student literacy. Sessions include narrating stories, role-playing, introducing new words, understanding characters, and writing well-crafted summaries of stories. Lewa partnered with Book Aid International to extend more reading resources to Lewa partner schools
There are schools that are lucky to have physical libraries that strengthen the effects and influence of the mobile library. Lewa works at equipping those libraries with more books and allow students to use the facilities whenever they are out of class either when they have recess or after classes.
Besides library materials, schools are provided with revision materials to supplement the books provided by the government to help them revise as well as gain more knowledge.
Staff
Lewa facilitates curriculum implementation through recruiting more trained teachers where we have a high teacher-student ratio as well as not teaching staff like librarians to help run the libraries or Matrons to assist children where we have provided dormitories.
| Our Impact |
1,813
tablets, 269 laptops, and 71 smart boards distributed to 27 Lewa-supported schools.
325 Students
Received scholarships in 2023 through the Bursary Programme.
51%
Bursary students scored a C+ and above in the 2023 national exams.
684
Girls from Lewa schools received mentorship through the LEP program, supported by the Denise Allen Fund.
27
Government schools supported with infrastructure.
1,024
Students benefited from the feeding programme in 2023.
