Education sets young people free
The Borana Education Support Programme works closely with our local communities,
inspiring the lives and futures of children
The Borana Education Support Programme (BESP) is dedicated to enhancing education and literacy levels in the communities surrounding Borana. By investing in bursaries, teacher salaries, and school infrastructure, BESP aims to provide students with the resources they need to excel and secure meaningful employment.
Since its inception in 2009, BESP has awarded over 500 scholarships to students from neighboring communities and has funded the salaries of more than 100 teachers. Currently, 53 students receive bursary support, while the programme also sustains the salaries of 11 teachers. BESP collaborates closely with the Lewa Education Programme to ensure continued support for high-achieving students.
BESP’s impact extends beyond financial aid. The programme supports 11 primary and four secondary schools, awarding bursaries to top-performing students in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams. Once awarded, students receive financial assistance throughout their secondary education. Those who gain admission to the Regular University Programme may qualify for continued sponsorship through BESP.
Infrastructure development is another key focus, with investments in classrooms, laboratories, libraries, staff housing, and sanitation facilities. Additionally, permaculture gardens are established within schools to promote healthy diets and sustainable farming practices, fostering a holistic approach to education and well-being.
By supporting education at every level, BESP ensures that students have the skills and opportunities to thrive, reinforcing the shared benefits of tourism and strengthening the communities at the heart of Borana Conservancy.
I promise to work with nature, for nature as nature!
Mazingira Yetu (MY) - Swahili for “Our environment”, arose out of an expansion of the existing Borana Education Support Programme, to address the unsustainable use of natural resources in the Laikipia Ewaso Nyiro Ecosystem of which Borana is a part of. MY engages with Borana Conservancy’s staff and neighbours to broaden, deepen and inspire understanding of conservation and its importance for the health of all those that inhabit the landscape - human, faunal and floral. MY provides place-based, mutual and holistic education focused on regenerative action-based approaches, to engage and inspire all to secure global ecosystem health.
The programme’s involvement in wider engagement, including visits, meetings, and collaboration with conservation partner organisations such as the Mount Kenya Trust and Daraja Academy (a safe-space boarding school for Kenyan girls), underscored the programme’s commitment to forging strategic partnerships and enhancing its impact.
In 2023, the Suzuki Rhino Club partnered with Borana Conservancy and has been instrumental in supporting the Mazingira Yetu Centre. A new Suzuki Jimny vehicle was donated to allow our educators to visit schools, students and parents. During the unusually heavy rains experienced since 2023, the Suzuki has become our vehicle of choice for monitoring wildlife because it is very light, excellent in mud, and easy to handle over rough terrain.
THE BREAKFAST CLUB
The Breakfast Club was initiated by Charlie Dyer through the Kisima and Gundua Foundations, and provides schools with wholesome porridge flour. This nutritious flour served as breakfast for young students gave rise to the name “The Breakfast Club.”
Borana Conservancy raised funds to broaden the reach of this programme in August 2023. The Breakfast Club is now providing porridge as a hearty breakfast to the ten schools that are part of the Borana Education Support Programme. The distribution of porridge flour to each beneficiary school occurs on a monthly basis during term time, taking into account the student enrollment figures. Currently, the project ensures that over 3,400 students start their school days with the energy and focus needed to excel in their studies.
