OUR FOCUS
Across the South Rift landscape, there is a growing need to equip communities especially young people – both local and international, with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to navigate a rapidly changing environment while preserving culture and strengthening coexistence with nature. However, access to consistent learning opportunities, mentorship, and platforms for cultural exchange remains limited, particularly across such a vast and diverse landscape.
SORALO’s Knowledge Sharing and Learning thematic area responds to this by creating spaces where learning is practical, grounded, and community-driven. This work is anchored in three conservation hubs: Lale’enok Resource Centre in Olkiramatian, Olmesutie Resource Centre in Loita, and the Olorgesailie Museum in Olorgesailie. Through these centres, SORALO engages directly with communities, schools, and partner organisations to promote conservation education, cultural preservation, and youth development.
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.
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.
