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November 2020
Project Name: Oloisukut Group Conservancy
Code: KVDA/STV/11A
Dates: 7th to 28th November 2020
Orientation: 7th November 2020
Travel to the Project: 8th November 2020
Project closure: 28th November 2020

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Travel from the project: 29th November 2020
Location: Narok County, Rift VALLEY
Theme: Conservation
Project overview
The Maasai Mara National Reserve (also known as Masai Mara and
by the locals as The Mara) is a large game reserve in Narok County, Kenya,
contiguous with the Serengeti National Park in Mara Region, Tanzania. It is
named in honor of the Maasai people (the ancestral inhabitants of the area)
and their description of the area when looked at from afar: "Mara," which is
Maa (Maasai language) for "spotted," an apt description for the circles of
trees, scrub, savanna, and cloud shadows that mark the area.
It is globally famous for its exceptional population of Masai lions, African
leopards and Tanzanian cheetahs, and the annual migration of zebra,
Thomson's gazelle, and wildebeest to and from the Serengeti every year
from July to October, known as the Great Migration.
The Maasai Mara National Reserve is only a fraction of the Greater Mara
Ecosystem, which includes the following Group Ranches: Koiyaki, Lemek,
Ol Chorro Oirowua, Olkinyei, Siana, Maji Moto, Naikara, Ol Derkesi,
Kerinkani, Oloirien, and Kimintet

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Composition of the community

AGE: Volunteers have to be at least 18 years old to participate in the work
camp. There is no upper age limit`
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
TYPE OF WORK CAMP: CONSERVATION
Volunteers will work for six hours daily from Monday to Friday. They will
work together with the local community members on the following activities:
Manual work and Intercultural activities:
• Tree planting
• Renovation of school classrooms and painting at the institution
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
• The theme of Discussion: Environmental conservation
• Visits to Schools and homes in the neighbourhood

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• Sports with pupils and local Maasai community
• Learning the Maasai culture and adventure within the Maasai Mara
Game Reserve
PROJECT PARTICIPANTS: Maximum 20 volunteers from Kenya and the
international community
What to carry?
This is outlined in the detailed info sheet and includes, sleeping bag and mat,
toiletries, torch/flashlight, sandals, mosquito net, national flag from your
country, among others
DONATION AND GIFTS:
These are usually symbolic gestures to enhance the solidarity of volunteers
and the hosting community. Kindly contact KVDA for details in case you are
willing to support a worthy cause in the community either by offering a
donation or long-term intervention on the project.
THEME: CONSERVATION
• Environmental management and rehabilitation strategies are
essential in Kenya, as 70 percent of the country’s workers are
employed in agriculture. In addition to this, ecotourism makes up
nearly 20 percent of the country’s GDP.
• Despite Kenya’s economic reliance on environmental health, 80
percent of the country’s land is arid or semi-arid. Only a small
percentage of land is suitable for growing crops, and even these fertile
areas are fragile. With poor agricultural management, the top soil is
easily washed away.
• Kenya’s poorest are the most likely to live in arid regions. Poverty
cyclically increases with the scarcity of productive soil, clean water,
effective sanitation and market opportunities. Without these critical
resources, the poor are unable to improve their livelihoods.
• Environmental conservation in Kenya is key to its development.
While enforcing conservation is challenging due to population
pressures, raising public awareness of environmental issues could
also raise support for such measures.

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• As smallholder farmers seek arable land, they encroach on Kenya’s
indigenous forests. Because of Kenya’s richness in non-timber forest
products such as medicinal plants, essential oils and beeswax, the
destruction of its forests harms both its wildlife and its economy.
Conserving the forests is pivotal to protecting both Kenya’s resources
and its 50 endangered species.
• The beautiful mangrove forests and coral reefs that line Kenya’s
Indian Ocean border are also a substantial form of revenue for the
country, providing both ecotourism destinations and ecosystem
services.
• To further promote the ecological perspective of Kenya’s government,
the Nature Conservancy and the Northern Rangelands Trust have
collaborated to develop community conservancies in the northern
semi-arid grasslands.
• These conservancies cover 3 million hectares, within which over
200,000 people from 17 different ethnic tribes reside. They strive to
help Kenyan communities engage in environmental conservation.
Orientation: Will be done on 7

th November 2020 at KVDA Residence in
Nairobi and the team will leave for the project on the morning of 8th
November 2020
Airport pick-up services:
• The port of entry to Kenya is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in
Nairobi
• Airport pick up will be done on provision of full flight details.
• The volunteers will be taken to KVDA Residence for accommodation at
subsidized fee
Participation FEES
The project participation fees that is all-inclusive for the 3-week work camp
is Euro 300
INSURANCE: KVDA does not provide insurance and volunteers should
obtain travel insurance cover. It is a good idea to get medicine you are used
to from your home country and seek advice from your personal doctor.
WHAT DOES THE PARTICIPATION FEES COVER?

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Project preparation cycle, return transfer from the airport and the project,
KVDA administration, orientation, certificate of participation, project
coordination, facilitation, evaluation and monitoring
WHAT IS NOT COVERED?
Excursion activities, local travel while in the community, personal effects,
needs and wants.
EDUCATIONAL TOURS
KVDA offers educational tours to spectacular sites including the renowned
Maasai Mara Game Reserve at separate fees. Please contact us for specific
tour information.
ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
• Volunteers will stay in a homestead provided by the local people with
very basic living conditions.
• Volunteers have an obligation to climb down the level of the people
with the aim of exposure to development challenges.
• KVDA will provide foodstuffs and volunteers will cook their own meals
in turns. Water is available from springs and it is recommended that
drinking water should be boiled or medicated.
• Mineral water available at supermarkets is also recommended.
• The Government policy to install ICT in primary schools has seen
connectivity to the national power grid for most educational
institutions in Kenya and this makes it easy for volunteers to use
electric appliances while at the project.
• Furthermore, we invite you to bring typical food, spices, drinks, games
and music from your country (for an intercultural evening) – and a lot
of motivation!
LANGUAGE: English is the language of the work camp. There will be a
possibility of learning Kiswahili and other international and local languages
as cultural diversity is a major component in international service
EMERGENCY CONTACTS:
Below are the emergency contacts for Kenya Voluntary Development
Association:

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KVDA Administration: +254721 650 357
PROJECT DETAILED INFO SHEET: Will be sent to the volunteer sending
organization within one week on acceptance of the volunteer by KVDA.
CONFIRMATION DEADLINE: Should be done via e-mail at least one month
before the start of the project.