Of all the things Ol Pejeta Conservancy does with the community, few are as fulfilling as our scholarship program. The ability to offer bright and needy children quality education – an asset that will likely transform their entire life’s outlook – is special. From the 18 communities surrounding the conservancy, we have 65 students who are fully sponsored for 4 years in high school. Ol Pejeta, with the support of donors and well-wishers, caters for their school fees and any other expenses that may arise while the parents provide their shopping and upkeep in the schools. In addition to paying fees for them, our Education Officers are involved with the schools and monitor their performance and general welfare. We do quarterly academic performance reviews with their parents and frequently visit them in schools for follow up visits and mentorship visits. However, our biggest mentorship event is the Scholarship Day that is held annually on Ol Pejeta. This year, it was sponsored by PA-MOJA who are our biggest scholarship donors; funding 56 of our students.
In June this year, we hosted all beneficiaries of our scholarship programme at the Rift Valley Adventures (RVA) camp in Ol Pejeta which was also hosting 10 PA-MOJA teachers from Madison Wisconsin. The theme of this year’s bursary day was self-motivation and reflection. With all the students’ onsite, the team from Wisconsin, with the support of the excellent trainers from RVA engaged the students various themed activities. There was rock climbing where they had to work in teams and support each others in pairs and encouraged each other to conquer their fears for heights. They also engaged in a game of Alaskan Kickball with the help of some of the North American teachers. For many of our kids it was also the first time they did yoga. The session combined with a talking circle where they spoke with each other from the heart and in confidence about their fears and ambitions. They had the chance for some of the best adventure training in Kenya, with the same trainers who work with international teams and the British Army among others. They were put through a combination of mental and physical endurance exercises to push their physical and creative abilities past their comfort zones. “These activities make you realise you can do much more with yourself than what you realise”, those were the words of Samuel Karai from St Augustine Sirima Secondary school.
We are grateful to PA-MOJA for their scholarship support – now in its 12th year - and the fact that they also this year’s sponsorship day. Special thanks also go to Rift Valley Adventures, who are both our tourism and education partners. They availed their facilities and staff for free and heavily discounted the catering.