Rhino Scholarships: Education is Conservation

Since our last update, the Community Development Programme has continued to work hard with partnering schools, to uplift the lives of children through educational scholarships and mentoring workshops. In December 2023 Judy Nyambura, with support from Silvia Apua, Sydney Leajore, and PA-MOJA co-chair Alison Stuart led a week-long mentorship programme for both boys and girls. This informative course equips these young individuals with essential life skills, fostering social and environmental responsibility and productivity.

Similarly, also in December, our Community Development Programme began the annual scholarship selection exercise for the 2024 cohort. Application forms have been distributed to the 21 communities that surround us, with the ambitious goal of awarding 130 students with a full four-year scholarship. This represents a significant milestone in the Rhino Scholarship programme, made possible thanks to your continued support which enables us to reach new heights and make a profound impact on the lives of all these deserving students.

In 2023 we further helped to bridge the educational gap in these communities through the construction of five classrooms and a library, providing structured learning spaces for all the students who can enjoy them. These new buildings offer students in remote areas the tools to explore, learn, and connect with outside sources. We further were able to donate 10 laptops to Nanyuki Library last year with the goals of increasing access to educational resources and teaching students’ digital literacy.

As we close the door on 2023, we find ourselves filled with gratitude as we reflect on the achievements made possible last year with your generous support. Your unwavering commitment to Ol Pejeta has empowered us to make a lasting difference in the lives of young children from vulnerable communities surrounding the conservancy. A warm Asante Sana from all of us at Ol Pejeta Conservancy for being an essential part of our student’s journey, and this new year may we continue to work together creating lasting impact and empowering communities for a brighter future.

Our scholarship students have been busy! After returning to school on the 8th of May following their Easter break, students returned to their studies with renewed enthusiasm. Half-term took place the week of the 27th of June and then students went on their summer holiday from the 12th of August. As mentioned in our May report, mentorship is a fundamental part of our scholarship programme to help students understand their opportunities, and to realize their full potential. Therefore, the team organized a Scholarships Day on the 14th of August where Ol Pejeta's own Chief Financial Officer Mr/ Kimani and other successful scholarship alumni spoke to a room full of students. The day also included special presentations from a motivational speaker who took the students through various study tips to help them improve their performance in school. Workshops like these really help to increase awareness and highlight the value of working hard in school.

Meet Perpetual, a 17-year-old scholarship student on a mission to become a lawyer!

Currently in form three at St. Augustine Sirimara Secondary School, Perpetual is an incredibly hardworking student, always performing in the top three in her class. Her family are subsistence farmers, whose main source of income and livelihood are the potatoes, maize beans, and vegetables they grow. Attending school would not have been an option for Perpetual if it weren't for her scholarship and the kind individuals supporting it. English is Perpetual's favourite class, and she hopes to utilize this to explore a career with a law firm! Influenced by her experiences and aware of how school has helped, Perpetual would like to return to her community when she is older, so that she too can encourage other young students to work hard and attain good grades. To relax, Perpetual enjoys reading and playing volleyball and handball!

The Community Development Team are incredibly grateful to you for such wonderful support and commitment. Together we are helping increase young children's access to education and impacting their lives for the better.