Community Development

Lewa supports 19 government schools in the neighbouring communities, benefitting over 6,500 children

                       LOCATION OF THE LEWA SUPPORTED SCHOOLS

The Lewa Education Programme remains one of the greatest ways in which the Conservancy pioneers development in its neighbouring communities. In less than a decade, the programme has expanded its outreach to 19 government schools, providing crucial support that otherwise would not be available. 

Provision of education bursaries

Often, children from financially-challenged backgrounds drop out of school due to a lack of funding. Lewa offers educational bursaries to some of these students, enabling them advance their education to the highest level possible and thereby change the course of their future.  

The success of the students who have received our bursaries is a great source of pride to Lewa; over 75% of the more than 500 recipients have gone on to graduate from university or college! These students are also ambassadors of the Conservancy in their communities, representatives of Lewa's efforts in holistic development.   

Infrastructure development

Most of the Lewa supported schools lack adequate infrastructure and students have often had to learn in dilapidated facilities. Over the years, Lewa has improved the infrastructure in these schools by renovating the existing facilities as well as building new classrooms, laboratories, teachers' quarters, toilet blocks and dining halls. 

The new dining hall at Kilimani, a primary school north of Lewa's boundary. 

This has greatly improved the learning conditions in the schools as well as enhanced the schools' capacity for student enrolment.  

Adult literacy

Our Adult Literacy programme remains a great poverty reduction tool in the area and has empowered many people who previously had no access to formal education. The Lewa Education Programme has seven centres for adult education offering two-hour classes every week to over 300 students. 

School feeding programme

Lewa supplies schools with porridge, maize and beans for the year. This helps in attracting and retaining more children to school. The Conservancy is currently undertaking farming initiatives through drip irrigation to create sustainability of the feeding programme through schools farming their own maize, beans and vegetables. 

How can you contribute to the success of our education programmes?

With generous gifts of the below amounts, you can make a difference in a child's life through our bursary programme:

$1,350 - Annual fees for a high school student

$2,000 - Annual fees for a mid-level college student

$3,500 - Annual fees for a university student

$2,000 - Cost of mentorship and career training

To learn more on the needs of each of the 19 schools and how you can contribute further to their success, please click here to download the Lewa Education Programme's development plans for the next four years. 

For more information, email our Education Programme Manager, Faith Riunga at faith.riunga@lewa.org.