‘Education…is the route to understanding’. With the support and understanding of the leaders, teachers and local tribesmen the Trust aims to encourage the communities to protect and conserve their environment, the valuable wildlife, and to cherish their own traditions. However, with the increase in human population, some of the old traditions of keeping huge herds of cattle, goats and sheep, now need to be addressed. The Milgis Trust feels that the way forward is through the children living in the Milgis ecosystem.
First, there is a shortage of schools in the area and some of the schools are inadequately furnished, which needs to be addressed. Second, the Milgis Trust aims to involve all the schools in a genuine focus to ‘save the environment and the wildlife’ with the production of educational materials that highlight and promote the benefits of conservation. By securing support through the schools, the children can become “ambassadors” for conservation within their community.
The Milgis school started under a tree in 2006 with the children learning the alphabet and numbers with white stones in the sand; it was extraordinarily effective!. But times move on, and now the children are in 6 very colorful eco- friendly classrooms, with thanks going to the Toto Trust, Wanaduma and private donors for their support.. To complete the school we need 3 more classrooms! The Milgis Trust's scouts also visit regularly to talk about the wildlife, the forests and the environment; discussing anything that will affect the future of the area. The children, in turn, then take this knowledge and spread the news to their families.
Toto Trust has also been wonderfully supportive in funding a beautiful nursery school in the remote tribal village of Latakwen, which has been a great success and is currently educating over 40 children.
Due to this success Toto Trust with the support of Capital International and Bradfield College - Hillside House, has funded another successful nursery school in the incredibly inaccessable area of Suruan; a remote community nestled high within the Ndoto Mountains with little access to the outside world.
MILGIS EDUCATION SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
New to 2011 is the Trust's secondary school sponsorship program. This initiative was started by Voss Foundation's Women-Helping-Women campaign in 2010 and has slowly built it's sponsor-base to be able to educate nearly 20 children (60% girls and 40% boys) through secondary education.
Children are wonderful catalysts for change and as the next generation they have the challenge and responsibility of continuing to maintain a sustainable ecosystem for their futures and that of their families.
It is therefore vital that the Milgis Trust not only supports education but also teaches the children how and why they must protect their environment and stay loyal to their culture and heritage as a part of the unique Samburu tribe.
For this reason the Milgis Trust has created a sponsorship package which goes beyond just government education. Every child sponsored will be enrolled in the Milgis’s Young Conservationist’s Club and at the end of each school term the children will be called upon to take up their role as a Young Conservationist.