OUR FOCUS
Our approach focuses on fostering coexistence with nature, strengthening cultural identity, and nurturing the next generation of leaders. We do this through ongoing engagement at the resource centres, as well as through partnerships with schools and local institutions, offering training, mentorship, and hands-on learning experiences.
Beyond the Classroom: Learning from the Land
Our Field Centre in Lale’enok transforms into a classroom without walls, welcoming four groups of international students and adult learners for an immersive experience in community-led conservation, leadership and local knowledge. We welcome groups such as the Sprouts Adult Group, Sprouts Student Group, Earth Expeditions and participants in the William & Mary Leadership Catalyst Programme. Through field sessions, practical activities, presentations and conversations with SORALO staff and partners, participants experienced how local knowledge, community leadership and collaboration come together to shape conservation in practice.
Understanding the Land, Understanding the Challenge
Conservation is complex. In the South Rift, people, livestock, wildlife, land, culture and livelihoods are deeply interconnected. There are no simple, one-size-fits-all solutions.Understanding this reality takes more than textbooks. It means getting out onto the land, listening to the people who live and work here, and learning from their experiences. That is at the heart of SORALO’s Knowledge Sharing and Learning work. And the learning was not one-way. While our visitors gained a deeper understanding of community-led conservation, their questions, experiences and fresh perspectives also challenged our thinking and brought new ideas to our teams.
Connecting with the land and with each other
The experience extends beyond field sessions. Visits to Lale’enok typically end with a culturally rich evening, a bonfire dinner under the stars, followed by cultural dances around the fire. It is a chance to put away the notebooks, share a meal, exchange stories and simply enjoy being together. For many visitors, these evenings become some of their most memorable moments at Lale’enok.
Taking the Land’s Lessons Beyond Lale’enok
For SORALO, these exchanges are about much more than hosting visitors. They help build a growing network of people who understand that lasting conservation solutions must be grounded in local knowledge, community ownership and strong partnerships. A visitor who leaves Lale’enok with a new understanding of community-led conservation can carry those lessons into their own communities, institutions and future work. That is the power of learning across borders, connecting people through the land, sharing knowledge and inspiring action far beyond the South Rift.
We are grateful to the visiting groups, partners and donors who make these exchanges possible.
Want to learn more about SORALO’s Knowledge Sharing and Learning work?
Contact Mercy Waithira on Mwaithira@soralo.org
KEY ACTIVITIES
Key activities include both in-school and out-of-school learning programmes, as well as targeted training sessions such as Evade and Avoid, which equips communities with practical skills for living alongside wildlife. We also invest in youth leadership development through sports and cultural platforms like the Osotua Tournament an annual event that brings together young people from across the landscape. In addition, we support research and learning exchanges that contribute to deeper understanding and knowledge sharing.
This work has had a broad impact. We are seeing stronger youth leadership emerging across the landscape, increased appreciation and preservation of cultural heritage, and a growing pipeline of informed and engaged young leaders who are prepared to take on future challenges within their communities.
At the same time, there are gaps in accessing and scaling these opportunities. The landscape is vast, and outreach is currently limited by a relatively small team. In-school programmes are often constrained by the time available within institutional schedules, and resources remain limited in relation to the demand for these programmes.
Looking ahead, SORALO aims to expand its reach and deepen its impact by growing a regionally based outreach team, increasing resources to enhance both the quality and frequency of activities, and fully operationalising two additional resource hubs to strengthen community engagement. We also aim to build stronger partnerships that enable collaboration, scale, and sustainability in delivering knowledge and learning across the landscape.
