There are many challenges associated with running a school in a semi-arid, rural part of Kenya. One of the main ones is access to water - a struggle that schools, villages, livestock herders and wildlife all have in common in Laikipia. Ol Pejeta work closely with communities to address water access issues - and in July, we partnered with Educational Consulting of Beijing (ZMN), through Sino-Africa Education Hope, to help students at Njoguini Primary School.

The students at Njoguini have never had easy access to clean water at school. Many of them face the same challenge at home too, as the surrounding community suffers frequent water shortages. Support from several gap year students from ZMN saw the drilling of a borehole in the school grounds, with an electrical submersible pump to be installed in the near future. The pump will allow a steady supply of clean water to the school, who have agreed to share the water with surrounding community members during drought.

Njoguini have big plans for the future. Through Ol Pejeta and partners, 7 new classrooms were built earlier this year. They aim to create an educational centre of excellence for the area - that will produce citizens empowered to transform the community. There are plans to construct an administration block, a staff room and a library at the school - all of which will commence later this year.