Support education & conservation with ecobursaries

  Executive Summary – A Rocha Kenya 2025

A Rocha Kenya continues to advance its mission of linking education with environmental conservation through the ASSETS Programme and related initiatives around Arabuko Sokoke Forest (ASF). In 2025, the organization achieved significant milestones across bursary support, conservation education, student engagement, community empowerment, and ecological restoration.

1. Bursary Payments

In 2025, a total of $11,640 was disbursed to support 138 students (77 male, 59 female) across 97 secondary schools in Kenya. These bursaries ensured continued school attendance and academic progress, while also serving as an incentive for parents to remain actively engaged in environmental conservation. This year, 38 students successfully sat for their final examinations, marking a significant milestone as they graduated from the programme.

2. Conservation Education in Schools

For over 20 years, A Rocha Kenya’s Environmental Conservation Programme has been a cornerstone of awareness-building around Arabuko Sokoke Forest (ASF). In 2025, the team engaged 10 schools, conducting 52 visits that reached 3,315 students (1,324 male, 1,991 female).

Key topics covered included:

• Types of pollinators

• Ways of conserving pollinators

• How to create a pollinator garden

• Importance of pollinators

• Challenges facing pollinators

• Conservation through pollinator gardens

This initiative continues to instill ecological knowledge and practical conservation skills among young learners.

3. Holiday Programme – ASSETS Camp

During the December holidays, a special camp brought together 95 students (42 female, 53 male). Led by the ASSETS team with support from local administration and conservation experts, the camp provided opportunities for mentorship, peer connection, and hands-on conservation activities such as tree planting, birdwatching, and nature walks at the Gedi UNESCO World Heritage Site

Objectives achieved:

1. Supported access to education for students near ASF, Gedi UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Mida Creek.

2. Strengthened conservation awareness and skills through practical engagement.

3. Fostered personal growth and peer networks via reflection and mentorship sessions.

4. Inspired future environmental stewards by linking education with conservation of Kenya’s coastal ecosystems.

4. Tree Nursery Project

The tree nursery project continues to thrive, with nine nurseries currently operational and hosting approximately 22,483 seedlings. Managed by parents of eco-bursary beneficiaries, the nurseries provide seedlings that will be distributed during the long rains for home planting. This initiative not only contributes to ecosystem restoration but also offers families additional livelihood opportunities.

5. Muvera wa Assets Delegates Meeting

For the first time, officials of Muvera wa Assets—an association of beneficiary parents—convened to deliberate on strategies for forest care and eco-tourism opportunities. The meeting strengthened community ownership of conservation efforts, while exploring sustainable funding options for the eco-bursary scheme.

Conclusion

In 2025, A Rocha Kenya’s integrated approach through the ASSETS Programme demonstrated the powerful link between education, conservation, and community empowerment. The bursary scheme enabled 138 students to remain in school, with 38 successfully completing their final examinations, while simultaneously motivating parents to stay engaged in environmental stewardship.