Education and Development Programs
We continue a strong commitment to environmental education for the future stewards of this global treasure. There are now Conservation Clubs established with assistance from FOC in 52 Mara and Trans Mara schools, involving over 3,000 Maasai children annually in conservation related activities. These include tree planting, agro-forestry projects, bird watching, bee keeping, and community health projects. We also take a very active role in promoting the overall education in several Mara schools. Thanks to the donations of our supporters, FOC also provides bookboxes to many schools each year. Often, these are the only books the children in remote areas will receive.
We also conduct community seminars several times a year such as Health & Hygiene Conservation Workshops which include information and support on HIV and other infectious diseases, Conservation Club Patrons & Head Teachers workshops, and new in 2011 Human–Wildlife Conflict Resolution Workshops.
Our sustainable development programs include the building of local-scale biogas plants which turn cow manure and water into cooking gas, saving trees as well as hours of labor for women and children. We also sponsor sustainable enterprise development, helping women’s groups achieve economic independence through activities such as beadwork and beekeeping
Human-Wildlife Conflicts Management
Local communities in the Greater Mara region suffer huge costs from living with wild life. The main types of conflicts are livestock depredation whilst cattle are grazing or while in bomas at night and crop raiding. These negative interactions and conflicts continue to exist and are increasing due primarily to Expansion of cattle grazing into wildlife habitat, Farming in wildlife corridors, and Expansion of human settlement into wildlife habitats due to population increase.
Working with Masai communities in the Greater Masai Mara Ecosystem, FOC is building capacity of local Masai communities to enable them mitigate such conflicts using simple sustainable strategies that are affordable and locally appropriate. These strategies have been locally developed by FOC in consultation with local people in selected sites in the Mara and have proved effective in reducing wildlife attacks and hence increasing community tolerance towards wildlife.