Terrific Turtle Treat!

Hello readers! My name is Sara and I am the Volunteer Coordinator for our Kenya projects. I spend most of my time communicating with incoming volunteers to help them prepare for their big adventure with GVI in Africa! It’s also nice to get out of the office and into the field with the kids – so that’s just what we did this past Saturday! GVI Kenya has been very lucky to have a long standing partnership with KESCOM (www.kescom.org) the Kenya Sea Turtle Conservation Committee. They were kind enough to donate their Saturday morning to visiting Olive’s school and teaching the kids about Sea Turtles.

Olive’s students bring desks out of all the classrooms to have an outdoor viewing of Sea Turtle videos.

While all of our students live mere minutes away from the beach, few rarely get to see it themselves. Resources for travel and available adult supervision limit their opportunities to when school staff or GVI volunteers organize a weekend trip. That said you’d never know that they aren’t little marine biologists in the making – our kids wowed the KESCOM staff with their knowledge and eagerness to learn!

Standards 4,5 and 6 crowded into one classroom for the presentation

Not only were our students keen to learn more about sea turtles, but word had spread through the slum and many brothers, sisters and neighbor friends showed up for what was quickly being renamed “Bombolulu Cinema”! We had lines out the door and had to show the videos and presentations in shifts!

KESCOM Staff: Prisca (in her GVI t-shirt!) leads the Q&A while Douglas & Andrew applaud the students.

A special treat for us was the surprise presenter: our very own Prisca! Prisca is a local graduate of the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) Training Institute. KWS is also a local partner and our South Coast Expedition hosts KWS scholarship students to join in our conservation and development work. Prisca is now interning with KESCOM and sharing her passion for the environment with a new generation of young Kenyans!

Younger students occupy themselves with chair races while they wait to watch the videos

GVI Volunteers, Siobhan & Will distribute water to the many thirsty children in attendance

It was a hot, hot, hot day and I couldn’t overstate my appreciation for both the KESCOM staff, the Olive’s Teachers and the GVI Volunteers who sweated it out so support bringing a wider world view to these bright, inquisitive minds. There was a special round of delighted giggles when the kids learned that they have their very “own” species of sea turtle: the Olive’s Ridley! (As Andrew from KESCOM pointed out, “It’s small, too, like the school!”) The school kids and teachers had an amazing time and are thirsty for more environmental education – AND our KESCOM friends were thoroughly impressed with the students they met – so, hopefully, you’ll be hearing more about our studies with KESCOM in the future!

Olive’s, KESCOM and GVI pose together. Photo credit: a young Olive (Ridley!)

- Sara, Volunteer Coordinator for Kenya

Terrific Turtle Treat!