Celebrating the construction of new preschools, classrooms and libraries, new college scholars and a new book! AND Turk's birthday!

Turk has just gotten back from what we think is his 51st trip to Kenya. It's  been over 20 years since Wangari Mathaai invited him to plant trees with the Green Belt Movement, and a half-million trees and 60 Kenyan school locations later we want to take a minute to say thank you to all of you.  And happy birthday to Turk!

Cutting the ribbons and celebrating with kids and communities on the new school projects is always a great experience. Deep thanks to Karen and Grant Richards for the funding to build the Junior Secondary classrooms for Ol Meoshi, and the continued support of Stephen Keriga and the team at Fairmont Mara Safari.

Additional stops on this trip included the new 2-room preschool at Kibubungi Primary...

... final finishes on the kitchen and dining hall at Emarti Secondary, new Junior Secondary classes and labs at Mahiga Hope, Mwangaza. Friends   gathered to attend the formal opening of the Thomas Giamboi Legacy Library at Partakilat Primary. Big thanks to all the donors that made these  much-appreciated projects possible.

There are close to 25,000 kids attending the rural schools where we’ve worked over the past 19 years. For our 20th year in Kenya, we’ve already begun planning or are under construction on the new (and very remote) Uaso Nyiro Secondary, Githira Preschool, and more. 

It always amazes us the lengths these students go to get an education. Sometimes that means actual distance! This is the location of the new high school at Uaso Nyiro. These kids will walk as long as it takes to get to school on time and be ready to work. 

The Kenyan release of THE BOY AND THE LION

Along with his friend and safari guide Mike Saito (Saitoti Ole Morijoi ), Turk is the co-author of a beautiful new book that tells the true story of young Mike being lost for five days in the Maasai Mara when he was just 5 years old. Incredibly, he was accompanied for much of that time by a wild lioness. The book is published for Kenyan and European audiences in  English, Swahili and - a rarity - in the Maasai language, Maa. Turk has begun the search for an American publisher.

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS 

Finally, congratulations to the 2025 winners of the Nobelity University Scholarship at Dedan Kimathi University (DeKUT). 

These top-scoring students from the five high schools where we work will start their studies in the fall joining the ranks of our 100+ college scholarship recipients. 

It is powerful to witness the change an education can make and these scholars serve as inspiration to younger students in their communities. Like recent graduate  Maureen Wanjiru Mwangi who has now returned to Mahiga Hope High to teach in our new Junior Secondary classes! Great way to pay it forward Maureen!

We are so grateful to all of you in every way. Donations are always  welcome but it is  your belief in the right to an education that keeps us going.