3 Schools in Lamu Win Environmental Excursions! 

What good stuff do you remember about your school-going years? I remember the school trips and outings in such detail; it seems just like yesterday. Students from 3 of our 14 environmental kindness clubs will be reminiscing about the same in the coming decades, thanks to the excursions they have been on this year! 

Over 60 kids had the time of their lives with us, thanks to their active contribution to conservation causes, and winning attitude at the Bahari Yetu Festival 2024! 

Meet our Conservation Champions

Under the umbrella sponsorship of Tusk Trust, we have more than 260 young people from across Lamu Archipelago learning about environmental protection and ocean literacy. School patrons have been instrumental in seeing to the success of these clubs. 2 of these clubs stood out particularly in the following areas, hence emerging as our school champions at the festival last year:

1. Leadership & organization.

2. Impact from outreaches with the community,

3. Sustainability projects & initiatives held.

4. Collaboration & networking participation.

5. Maintenance of club records & documentation.

6. Recognition & awards received regionally.

1. Manda Maweni Primary School - The Reigning School Champions

Manda Maweni, the school with the most commendable membership corporation, administrative support and passionate patrons, Madam Mercy and Mr. Japhet. The club members were rewarded with a trip to The FlipFlopi, where they witnessed first hand exactly what happens to plastic once it is disposed as waste.

It was interesting to note that despite The FlipFlopi Project being located in Lamu for years, most of them had not the slightest clue of their location. The excited kids could not stop recounting how amazed they were to see chairs, decor and boats made from plastic waste!

As a ripple effect, no plastic bottle is left wandering at Manda Maweni School and its environs. The kids promised The Flipflopi that they will be collecting all plastic litter, until there is no more. True to their word, the club has reserved a special area in school for plastic waste, and they have used some of it as decorations for their assembly area.

2. Ama Primary School - Proudly 1st Runners Up!

Ama Primary School are the real dreamers who got to see their dream come true; recognition for their environmental conservation efforts. Coming in second as school champions, the club has been keeping the school clean on the daily, planting trees and is in the process of establishing a sustainable kitchen garden.

To celebrate their good work, we headed out one morning for a bird-watching tour at the mangroves of Lamu, guided by Juma the local bird guide. In the mangrove channels, we saw shore birds and waders like the Little Egret, African Fish Eagle, Grey Plovers, Pied Kingfisher and Sooty Gulls.

It was a wholesome scene seeing how excited the kids were with the binoculars, and sinking their feet in the muddy channels on a school day. The reigning school champions have stiff competition this year; Ama Primary promised to do everything in their power to emerge position at the 2025 Bahari Yetu Festival!

3. Bright Girls Secondary School - Art Competition Winners

One of the festival’s fun competitions was the Art Competition. 5 representatives were required to work as a team and artistically communicate the festival’s theme ‘guardians of the deep,’ within an hour. Bright Girls’ art piece, which is now on display at The Lamu Fort, won because it represented diverse marine life, was aesthetically appealing, and contained an environmental message.

In addition to being awarded with Elke’s Coloring Books, the girls enjoyed a 4hr-return sail to Kipungani, a good swim and games at the beach. For many of them, this was the first time in Kipungani, and a well-deserved break from school work. 

Quote from one of the students. 

Exciting Times Ahead

Great things await our young conservationists this year! 

1. Kitchen Garden Projects

At Manda Maweni Primary School, we have a kitchen garden coming together nicely. With the kitchen garden already fenced and soil delivered for farming, we are entering the planting season! As for Bright Girls Secondary School, we are yet to plant some vegetables that will be used for lunch.

2. PACE Program

Supported by Leopardess Foundation, the mangrove protection PACE Curriculum is ready to roll out! We will be distributing new mangrove education books to our Environmental Kindness Clubs, with experts prepared to take them through. Exciting times ahead, starting May! These books were made in partnership with Tusk Trust and have an accompanying educational film.

Keep checking our socials for timely updates on what our young conservationists are up to!

3. Elasmobranch Program

We are working alongside Bahari Hai to educate our students on different megafauna of the Indian Ocean. Under the Elasmobranch Program that is sponsored by Coral Reef Care, we will focus on Sharks, Rays & Skates of East Africa and how to take care of them. Currently, educators of the program are undergoing trainings before we can roll out the program to schools across the Lamu Archipelago. In this program, we will also include our fisheries department to engage the community BMUs on the same.

Stay tuned!