The Sarara Foundation’s fourth nomadic Montessori school set to open soon!
Nomadic Montessori in action. Photo by Jeremy Bastard
We are overjoyed to share that The Sarara Foundation will be opening our fourth nomadic Montessori pre-school here in Namunyak Conservancy in the coming weeks.
When you open a child’s mind, you open a door to the future – and not only multiply their prospects, but also allow communities to flourish and thrive. With Namunyak’s fourth Montessori pre-school about to welcome learners for the first time, we can’t wait to nurture more of its future leaders!
For the past four years, it’s been a joy to see more than 600 children at our schools in Lengusaka, Tintil and Ntaparani develop, learn and play. As the final preparations for the new school at Louwai Obo are starting, we’re so excited about unlocking all the new learners’ potential, and helping them to grow too!
We believe that education holds the power to shape the leaders of the future – who will change the world, conserve our precious landscapes and wildlife, and help communities to prosper. Did you know that indigenous peoples are the guardians of 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity? All the more reason to prioritise the education of our children.
Teacher Meschak reading for a group of learners at Tintil Montessori pre-school. Photo: Jeremy Bastard
Planting the seeds of knowledge
There’s a saying that a child without an education is like a bird without wings, and community leaders from Louwai Obo realised that because of its growing population and no school of note, many children were missing out on the chance to learn and advance. Something had to be done! Their requests, coupled with the generous contribution of a donor, turned our fourth Montessori School into a reality.
Our vision is to keep expanding our unique school system to fulfil everyone’s fundamental right to learning – and provide world-class schooling that celebrates the Samburu's culture and heritage.
Seamlessly incorporating and honouring the indigenous community, the Montessori pedagogy embraces that Samburu culture doesn’t work with ages, but rather in age sets. It encourages a spirit of camaraderie, community and unity – a sentiment that’s been woven into the Samburu lifestyle for centuries. Being nomadic pastoralists also means moving with their livestock in search of grazing, and our classrooms therefore need to be mobile and collapsible – which is why our schools are not based in buildings, but tents. (Read more about how we designed our schools to suit the indigenous, nomadic Samburu: here)
As at our other three schools, all learners at Louwai Obo will also receive a nutritious serving of porridge every lunchtime on school days – which their teacher can easily prepare.
Learners walking on their balancing track. Photo by Jeremy Bastard
Looking ahead
The schools are very well received throughout the community, which makes the demand high. We are committed to training teachers from the community to ensure the Nomadic Education Program remains consistent and robust. Our aim is to build capacity at a ground level by identifying talent and offering applicants opportunities to complete their teaching diplomas and internships right here in Namunyak.
The Montessori method fits so well with the Samburu culture that parents no longer need to choose between their children receiving an education, or following traditional life – a first for the community!
Of course, nomadic tented schools in the heart of the wilderness present a unique range of day-to-day challenges, and the realities include everything from housing needs for teachers to managing natural elements like the heat in summer, dust storms, and heavy rains during the rainy seasons! Problem-solving and finding unique solutions are fundamental to the success of our Education Program and The Sarara Foundation.
Support The Nomadic Education Program
We are deeply grateful for every donation, however big or small, to provide education to the Samburu children in Namunyak Community Conservancy.
