It has been well documented that education is the most powerful weapon one can use to survive in the current millennium. For today’s generation, knowledge and communication skills are an absolute necessity. For Kenya, the country’s’ one its ultimate successes will lie in its ability to give equal access to all candidates and provide qualified skills into the labour market that will enhance the drive to achieving both global and national development goals. A big hindrance to achieving this though lies in is the acute poverty level in the some of the rural areas of Kenya. As Kenya continues to improve an underfunded school system with school reforms that promise institutional changes in structure and curriculum design, it is recognised that challenges remain. Although primary and high school fees have been abolished by the government, cost for indirect fees such as school uniforms and books place additional burden on the most vulnerable families and this leads to a steady increase in the number of dropouts. 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. Many schools in the area in the remote areas of Kenya continue to lack adequate infrastructure, teachers, textbooks and other learning resources. To combat this and to support the national and county governments’ development goals, Lewa has implemented different initiatives to bridge the gaps in the provision of quality education in the region. Lewa continues to support the following programmes.
What We Do
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School Programs
The Challenge
The Lewa Education Programme’s main aim is to provide the children on the boundaries of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy with access to the best possible education opportunities and effectively create awareness on the importance of wildlife conservation. Support is given through the development and improvement of infrastructure, the provision and training of teachers, and the facilitation of feeding programmes. The programme also provides bursaries and scholarships for young, high-performing students in secondary and tertiary levels of education. The Lewa Education Programme (LEP) partners with 23 public schools that span Laikipia, Meru and Isiolo counties.
| Lewa
Bursary programmes
The Challenge
Many children in rural Kenya lack access to quality education. This is a problem because when young people are unable to complete their education, they cannot develop their unique talents, grow with new perspectives, and achieve their dreams. Without access to opportunities that unlock their potential, young people risk relying on livelihoods that depend on finite natural resources. Lewa recognises that good education that leads to sustainable opportunities remain an important part of long-term conservation. For conservation to be sustainable, young people need to be equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to access gainful jobs in the future, lift their families out of poverty, and make responsible choices as future leaders of their communities and stewards of the environment.
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Adult Literacy
The Challenge
In 2017, UNESCO reported that at least 750 million adults still lack basic literacy skills. Literacy levels in many communities across northern Kenya have remained low due to marginalisation, poverty and other social development challenges. Developing literacy and numeracy skills in adulthood also gives individuals a better ability to reach their full potential. Adult literacy is a critical avenue for those who have missed out on access to formal schooling. Kenya’s current national policies and Constitution recognize that all citizens have a right to high quality education, which is also in line with global Sustainable Development Goals. However, the provision of adult learning in Kenya faces such challenges as inappropriate learning environments, inadequate instructional materials and the inability to balance career and family demands. To overcome these challenges, Lewa adult learning programme is geared towards providing knowledge and skills that ensure equal opportunities that are relevant to the individuals context.
| Lewa
Conservation Education
The Challenge
Thousands of learners in Kenya rarely have access to education that empowers them to be stewards of their environment. Yet close to 80% of Kenya’s population is below 35 years, with the median age being 19. Beyond Lewa’s boundaries, northern Kenya is facing a horde of ecological problems. From degraded landscapes to rapidly diminishing natural resources, widespread conservation awareness is required to reverse these negative trends.
