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The Arabuko-Sokoke Schools and Ecotourism Scheme (ASSETS)

A guide trained by ARK shows tourists around Mida Creek

To address the current situation, where both the forest and the surrounding human communities are fighting for survival, A Rocha Kenya established ASSETS in 2001, in conjuction with:

• the United Nations Development Programme Global Environmental Facility
• Kenya Wildlife Service
• Kenya Forest Department
• the Ministry of Education, Malindi & Kilifi Districts.

The project provides eco-bursaries for secondary school children living adjacent to Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and Mida Creek. The project also helps to protect the environment, as all beneficiaries agree to take part in conservation activities, including tree planting and environmental education.

Funds are generated for the eco-bursaries through:

• The local tourist industry (hotels and travel agents)
• National and international donors (including tourists)
• Eco-tourism facilities developed by A Rocha Kenya and its partners (including the Forest Department and the Kenya Wildlife Service, a government organisation responsible for the protection of Kenya's biodiversity)

Local tourists cross the mangrove walkway at Mida Creek

One of the major projects has been the construction of a 260 metre suspended walkway situated some 20 km south of Malindi, towards Mombasa. The walkway meanders through the mangrove forest at Mida to a bird-hide which looks out over Mida Creek. The boardwalk was launched in July 2003 and, to date, over 1,000 international and local tourists have paid to use it. The proceeds from visitors have contributed to the ASSETS bursaries which have so far enabled 92 local children to attend secondary school. These children are now attending 30 different secondary schools around the country, including one of the top national schools in Nairobi.

In addition to the bursary fund, work is also taking place with local communities to develop sustainable forms of income generation, for example, by training local guides and building ecotourism facilities such as the canopy platform and Nature Trail in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. As community members benefit from the surrounding habitats, they will grow to value, and in turn, protect them.

Looking ahead...

The Mida Creek Walkway Project - build for ecotourism

By the year 2015, ASSETS aims to be supporting over 1,100 students from all the 36 schools within a 5 km radius of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and Mida Creek. With this number of families directly benefiting from the forest and creek, there is enormous potential for attitudes to radically change regarding these habitats and to foster a care and concern for their protection instead of the hostility that currently is so prevalent.

Why not visit the ASSETS website?

To find out more about the Arabuko-Sokoke Schools and Ecotourism Scheme and to see how you can donate to ASSETS please visit the ASSETS website: assets-kenya.org