2007 August Status report Basecamp Education Projects

Status August 2007:

Capacity building
The partnership between Koyaki Guiding School and Basecamp Explorer Kenya finalized. We aim to develop Koyiaki Guiding School to become a centre for capacity building activities.
Basecamp Masai Mara will take part of the responsibility of running the Koyaki Guiding School together with the Maasai community.
Basecamp tour guide drivers and naturalists on training programs. A wildlife, flora, fauna and Safari Codes of Conduct seminar was held at Basecamp Masai Mara in June, in co operation with Koyaki Guiding School instructors.
Basecamp Masai Mara management team attended formal management training on ecotourism and hotel operations as well as in house coaching during a one year period.

Training
Basecamp Explorer Kenya continue to provide and increase number of internships and training opportunities for mainly Kenyans but also a small number of international students
Koyaki guiding school students finalizing their attachments at BCMM,
Moi University students finalized their attachments at BCMM,
Amsterdam University Masters student currently carrying out research based at BCMM
Perugia, Italy and Oslo University PhD student currently carrying out research with BCMM

Sponsorships school children:
In 2007 as many as 22 Maasai girls have been studying and living at St Mary’s Primary Boarding School, in Narok, and one girl at Ole Tipis Secondary School in Narok. Mama Zebra Fund school class still actively supported by its sponsors.

Basecamp Education Project Fund
A fund has been established to provide financial support for girls’ higher education and infrastructure support. For each guest bed night at Basecamp Masai Mara , a certain percentage given to the fund. In 2006 this gave a total of 120 000 Ksh. Basecamp guests and sponsors also welcome to contribute.
Basecamp Masai Mara provided support for finalizing the Talek Primary School dormitory, mainly to its interior equipment and solar panels.
Basecamp Education Fund has been given funding from BC guests to fund parts of a new dormitory at St Mary’s school, Narok.
Basecamp Education Fund has been given funding for Talek school or other school in the area a contribution to be able to participate in regional school music and singing competitions

Aims 2008
Continue and increase the capacity building activities within the BCEK network of employees
Continue to offer infrastructure support and funding to schools in the Masai Mara region, Talek, Irbaan and Mpuai primary schools.
Continue to offer transfers to boarding schools within the Masai Mara region for both boys and girls
To support and develop better ways of guest interactions at local schools, including pledging support system

Funding
Further funding needed, both on school infrastructure and school sponsoring especially for secondary education. For more information about the projects, contact: projects@basecampexplorer.com