Manny’s: Reimagining Community-led Conservation in Kenya

Join us as we transport you to Northern Kenya to learn about the remarkable achievements of the Sarara Foundation across healthcare, education and enterprise including the heartwarming story of the first indigenous community owned Elephant Sanctuary in Africa, Reteti.

Sarara Foundation’s Program Director Terri Nderitu, and Chief Administration Officer Andrew Smiles will share how the foundation’s partnership with the indigenous Samburu of Namunyak Community Conservancy, that spans 850,000 acres, has been successful in preserving biodiversity and building thriving communities – creating a community-centric model of conservation that can serve as a prototype for modern conservation in Africa.

ABOUT THE SARARA FOUNDATION:

The Sarara Foundation is working to protect the 850,000-acre Matthews Forest Range, located within Namunyak Community Conservancy in Northern Kenya, the wildlife and the indigenous Samburu who call this land their home. Working in partnership with the Samburu community to preserve their cultural independence, build economic strength and foster a healthy foundation for the future, our unique approach to conservation places a thriving indigenous community at the center of the ecosystem. Sarara’s programs cover three thematic areas including, enterprise development, a groundbreaking nomadic montessori education program, and mobile medical unit focused on perinatal healthcare.

The Samburu have lived side-by-side with a healthy, robust environment for generations and in order to navigate a rapidly modernizing world and changing climate we look to their traditional wisdom to ensure the historic wildlife and wild lands of the Matthews Forest Range continue to be preserved. In addition to community led conservation, the Sarara Foundation is also the primary fiscal sponsor of Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. Dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and preparing orphaned baby elephants for eventual rewilding, Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is the first community owned and operated wildlife sanctuary in Africa. Currently over 42 elephant orphans reside at Reteti being looked after by community members who will eventually assist in their rewilding.