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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 with funding from the United Nations Development Programme Global Environmental Facility and in conjuction with the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Kenya Forest Service, NatureKenya and 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) and the eco-tourism facilities developed by A Rocha Kenya and its partners at Mida & Gede Ruins.

Turtle Bay Beach Club in Watamu has played an important role in the support of the scheme through raising funds for bursaries as well as giving training opportunities for ASSETS graduates. Several other hotels send their guests to visit the bird hide at Mida and encourage donations.

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 over 4,000 international and local tourists use it per year. The proceeds from visitors have contributed to the ASSETS bursaries which, by December 2010 had supported 378 local children to attend secondary school. These children are attending or have attended over 30 different secondary schools around the country, including one of the top national schools in Nairobi. Ten 'ASSETS graduates' are now in university and many more have managed to get jobs as teachers, in the hotel industry, police force and in IT.

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 and a second tree platform in Gede Ruins. 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 2020, 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.

The ASSETS scheme has been shown to be making a real difference in the lives of children and families around Arabuko-Sokoke and Mida. It is also having a real impact on the conservation of these sites. However it can only succeed with support from others.

We invite you to join us in helping both these children to get an education and at the same time to conserve one of Africa's most precious forests and wetlands - it only costs $29 / €21 / £19 per month to put a child through secondary school with ASSETS.

DONATE now and find out more about the Arabuko-Sokoke Schools and Ecotourism Scheme by visiting the ASSETS website.