AITO Travel Writer of the Year - Chris Haslam was asked in his opinion – What in Travel deserves an award? – "The winner of the Haslam award for excellency goes to Kicheche Camp for it’s passionate commitment to the local community"
The Kicheche Community Project
Established in 2004, the Kicheche Community Project has fast become a reliable source of funding for projects in and around the Aitong area.
Our mission is to encourage the preservation of the environment whilst improving the welfare of the community through improved health and education facilities.
At present we are assisting the following facilities;
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Olkimitare Nursery School
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Aitong Academy Primary School
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The CMF Aitong Health Clinic
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Koiyaki Guiding School
Olkimitare Nursery School
This project was initiated by Kicheche guests visiting the school in 2004. This small community nursery school is situated approximately ten kilometres from Kicheche Mara Camp and is not officially recognized by the government. It is therefore not eligible for funding so it is reliant on the limited income available from school fees. Unfortunately these are not enough to maintain the infrastructure, buy text books or other essential items and therefore the school had stagnated somewhat. The Kicheche Community Project took on the responsibility of revitalizing, upgrading and maintaining the school to improve the quality of education.
With the introduction of a Head Teacher, Amos, whose salary is funded by donors, the school has been revitalised and acquired a lot of positive energy. 70 students were split into two groups of upper and lower level. Amos, assisted by Mercy and Jonathan did all the teaching within the one classroom.
In May 2007 we were delighted to complete the rebuilding of the school with an additional classroom thereby allowing each level their own classroom and reducing the number of children per class. The rebuilding of the school was fully funded by the generous donations received from guests past and present and other well wishers. Currently there is a new head teacher Leonard, as Amos has moved on to further his studies, and Mercy has been replaced by Veronica.
Children attending the school can, and often do, walk up to 7km each day to attend classes, so with your continued support we hope to see this school thrive and so make the journey worth their effort.
Aitong Academy
Although not the centre of our support group, Aitong Academy receives useful funding from Kicheche’s guests and outside donors, such as books, pencils, playground equipment etc. The directors John and Juliana are dedicated to the children and maintaining the standards of the school.
Aitong Academy is set at the heart of Aitong Town, close to the hustle and bustle of the weekly market. The children charm all their visitors with their full and whole-hearted singing and reciting of their times tables!
The children here are older and school fees are higher than Olkimitare. Facilities are also more advanced, however there is always more to be done. We have been providers for this small school in the past and hope to be able to do more in the future.
The Aitong CMF Medical Clinic
A good clinic is a fundamental part of any community and in Aitong town the story is no different! Kicheche recognises the need for good health care facilities; we provide the clinic with water once a week and we wish to assist further in any way possible.
Funding for this clinic comes in the form of medicine and bandages etc. The Community Project recently bought a water pump for the clinic to allow them to pump their water supplies from the spring. Other areas still in need of attention are;
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The drive way is eroded and badly in need of repair.
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A shaded area needs to be constructed for those waiting to be treated.
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A fully equipped delivery room is required
Koiyaki Guiding School
An educated and informative guide is a necessity on any safari and it is the aim of Koiyaki guiding school to produce top quality Maasai guides each year. It was built in 2005, on the initiative of Ron Beaton, a local tour operator and its construction was funded by the EU. The course runs for one year and the curriculum includes the study of ornithology, mammal behaviour, game tracking, guest relations, first aid and driving, amongst others. The school has an intake of 22 students annually, entirely from the local Maasai community. Scholarships of US$1800 are required for each student and this is where further assistance is needed.
Kicheche sponsors one of the students each year and currently employs FIVE graduates as guides and trainee guides. We intend to fully support the development of the Koiyaki Guiding School and its students in the time to come.
East African Office:
P.O. Box 74901,
00200 City Square, Nairobi,
Kenya
London Office:
Kensington Charity
Centre,
4th Floor Charles House,
375 Kensington High Street,
London
W14 8QH
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