I grew up in Coastal Kenya, neighboring the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest in Kilifi County. I attended primary school at Bogamachuko Primary School, one of the pioneer schools in the ASSETS (Arabuko Sokoke Schools and Eco Tourism Scheme) program.
During my time at the school, I joined the wildlife club at the school, where I developed a passion for environmental conservation, particularly the practical aspects of it. A Rocha Kenya’s involvement in our school projects further ignited my commitment to conservation. Through this partnership, we learned valuable skills, such as cultivating tree seedlings and participating in inter-school competitions. It became evident to me that the forest and the environment were not just resources but also our heritage. The more we protected them, the better our lives and those of future generations would be. Apart from environmental education in schools, A Rocha Kenya implemented an eco-bursary school called the Arabuko Sokoke Schools & Eco Tourism Scheme which provided bursaries to bright students residing around the Arabuko Sokoke Forest as an incentive for their (and their families) participation in the protection of the forest and other environmental conservation interventions.
For a student to benefit from the ASSETS bursary program;
- The student must come from the forest area( around the Arabuko-Sokoke forest)
- Achieve a minimum of an average of 60% in the KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education).
- The student and their families should have a ‘wood lot’ to show their commitment to forest conservation. Active membership in the wildlife club and conservation activities.
In 2006, I took my final primary school examination, and thanks to my excellent performance with a mean score of 82%, I was offered a place at Lenana School in Nairobi. However, the high tuition fees presented a significant hurdle for my family. My father, who has been a strong advocate for education, approached A Rocha seeking assistance through the ASSETS program. To my astonishment and immense joy, they generously covered the entire first-term school fees amounting to KES 28,000, making it possible for me to enroll at Lenana School. This marked the beginning of a remarkable journey that enabled me to complete my high school education through support from ASSETS.
My involvement with A Rocha and the ASSETS program has not only transformed my life but also that of my family. It broadened my understanding of environmental conservation, far beyond the confines of the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and the Watamu Marine Park to a matter of global significance. Additionally, my siblings also benefited from the ASSETS program, while my parents actively engaged in MUVERA wa ASSETS, the parents’ association for program beneficiaries. Even years after we completed our schooling, my parents remain actively committed to community conservation initiatives, embrace conservation-oriented farming practices, and maintain a woodlot for their daily wood requirements.
In 2010, I successfully concluded my secondary education at Lenana School. Following that, I enrolled at Moi University in Eldoret to pursue my undergraduate studies. My journey took an exciting turn when I joined A Rocha in the ASSETS program, where I contributed to fundraising and played a role in environmental education initiatives. Presently, I work as a specialist in humanitarian emergencies, which has provided me with invaluable insights into the devastating impacts of climate change. This experience underscores the urgency of environmental conservation in our current times like never before!