Grassroots Logistics is a regional organization based in Nairobi and operating within East Africa, with the aim of facilitating and supporting projects aimed at empowering local communities to address conservation and poverty alleviation challenges. We also aim to support our sponsors and donors to fulfill their philanthropic, emotional and individual needs by contributing to ‘their own projects’ while ensuring that they are updated on ‘what their dollars’ have achieved. In a sense, Grassroots Logistics therefore aims to encourage our sponsors and donors to visit the various project areas so that they can participate and have the experience rather than just donating to causes that they do not identify with. As such, we aim to work with projects that strengthen the mission and objectives of Grassroots Logistics. |
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ON THE GROUND: Reconstruction of Pupils’ Latrines and Teachers’ houses, Mara Rianta Primary School, Maasai Mara, Kenya
Mara Rianta is a rural primary school located next to the world famous
wildlife-rich area of Maasai Mara in Kenya. The school now has 260 enrolled
pupils including a fair representation of girls. The school is set in
the heart of the community owned lands, outside the Game Reserve itself.
The wildlife know no boundaries and graze & hunt these plains alongside
the nomadic Maasai communities who herd their livestock here.
Pupils at the school face enormous challenges to get to school, including the distances they have to walk to and from school.
When the school was first constructed, the small number of parents could not afford to raise funds to put up modern facilities. Pupils had to share the few poorly constructed pit latrines in the school. Sanitary conditions suffered, especially after the heavy rains in April/May. compound.
With funding from local tour operators and hoteliers money was raised to fund the construction of four separate latrines for boys and girls. Girls, who previously skipped school during their menstrual cycle, are now attending school throughout the term.
The improvements to drainage and sanitation mean that waterborne diseases Bilharzia, Dysentery, that were prevalent have drastically reduced. At the same time, three teachers’ houses were also built to help to retain six teachers within the school
Several donors contributed to both projects including Mara River Camp (now closed) and Musiara Holdings (Governors Camps). Currently, there are plans to improve water harvesting through guttering and construction of two water storage tanks.
Email: grassroots@originsafaris.org
Copyright © Grassroots Logistics, 2007.
