Reverse Deserts Through Community Transformation
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Updates from the Field:
Updates from the Field (or Progress Reports) on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.com by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
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Index of Updates from the Field
FULLY FUNDED, BUT MORE WORK TO DO
By Stacy Harris - Program Manager, October 22, 2008 05:51 PM
Thank you for supporting our community development and reforestation program in Kenya. This project has been fully funded which has enabled us to establish a base nursery camp with an electric fence to keep the lions, leopards and especially the elephants away from our seedlings.
5,000 trees have been planted out with the goal of planting over 100,000 trees in the upcoming year. With your continued support we expect to combat global warming by continuing to reforest the desertified areas of Kenya. By introducing clean air technology and new innovative ideas, Africa Conservation Trust and the Masai community, with your help, can contine to help mitigate climate change by reforesting Kenya.
We hope you are able to continue supporting our other projects which are inclusive of women, children, medical facilites and clean air technologies. The one thing Africa has is land and if the land is used properly everyone, even in America, will benefit.
Thanks again for your contributions you have helped changed the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in Africa.
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GLOBAL GIVING VISITS KENYA
By Stacy Harris - Director, July 29, 2008 11:36 PM
We were excited when Global Giving visited our project in Kenya. The children sang songs and danced as they entertained our special guest. But most importantly, the local Masai people and the school children were able to express their thanks to Global Giving and all of our sponsors.
We met with the Masai elders and their wives in their mud houses or manyattas. We visited the local school as we were best able to show Global Giving the needs of the community, as well as, what has already been accomplished.
Reversing deserts is not easy work. However, thanks to your support we are now able to produce 100,000 seedlings monthly in our nursery.
With the goal of reforesting 100 acres per year, we are still in need of water resources such as boreholes or dams. Water, being the essential ingredient to life, is also our greatest need.
We have helped the local Masai community construct one dam (man-made lake) and we hope that with your help we can bring clean water for bathing, drinking etc to the entire Masai community.
The things we take for granted in America, such as water, are actually luxuries in Kenya. Most women and children have to walk all day just to access water. Obviously, school for girls becomes secondary in this situation. This is why your continued support in helping the local Masai community develop access to water will enable these vulnerable people to live productive lives, thus becoming an asset to the world community rather than a liablity. Help us change Africa, one Tree at a Time!
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COMBATING GLOBAL WARMING
By Stacy Harris - Director, June 23, 2008 07:57 PM
It has been a great year so far at our Lake Magadi Camp. 50,000 trees have been planted out and the local Masai have embraced our training program.
25 farmers received leadership and agricultural training by ACT employees. Of the 25, amazingly 6 were women. It was the first time women were allowed to participate in leadership meetings within the Shompole Masai community. Things truly are changing.
Four schools and one clinic received trees and began planting. Over 2000 students are beginning to learn about the need for conservation. Also, the tree planting process will ultimately provide the schools with an income to pay teachers.
Since we are growing and our nursery is expanding we are in even greater need to get water to the local communities. Dams, boreholes and irrigation channels are needed to ensure a viable water supply for the local farmers. The water is used for drinking, bathing and planting.
Thank you for your continued support as your support is helping change the lives of rural African farmers, one tree at a time!
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We can change the lives of Africa's poorest people through environmental conservation!
By Stacy Harris - USA Representative, May 19, 2008 06:12 PM
Please visit our new website at www.africaconservationtrust.org As you will notice we have made alot of progress since our involvement with Global Giving.
Due to the post-election violence in Kenya our project was briefly delayed. However, we are back and we have begun planting out of trees at Lake Magadi. We have undergone restructuring as we press on to make Kenya, and all of East Africa, a vibrant and prosperous place for all.
The Masai have embraced us like family. They are even coming from Tanzania because of our project. Our joint efforts are clearly creating an atmosphere of hope and joy among the Masai.
Having been neglected by their government, and for that matter the world, for so long. I am excited to be apart of a project that will empower Africa's most forgotten and poorest people.
Our next step is to continue planting out of trees, we expect millions and hopefull billions one day. The Magadi area, like much of Sub-Saharan Africa has literally become a desert due to charcoal fuel burning. With your help, we can continue to train the Masai and other rural farmers, we can continue to plant out more trees, we can bring them clean water and solar power, all through your assistance. But most of all, we can continue to help the poorest people in Africa become self-sufficient through environmental conservation.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FOUNDER!
Adam Tuller, Founder and Director, was recently named an Honorary Game Warden by the Kenya Wildlife Service. This is a big boost to our program because Magadi is located on a wildlife reserve. Way to go Adam!
Finally, as an American and a new employee with ACT, I did not understand how growing trees in Africa can benefit anyone? After interacting with the Masai and rural farmers I realized that this program is not just about planting trees, it is about changing lives. When I saw the smiles on the Masai and their children and the eagerness to participate with ACT, I realized, we can actually make a difference in Africa!
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Reversing Deserts in the Lake Magadi Region with the Masai Tribe, South Western Kenya
By Adam Tuller - , October 18, 2007 06:00 PM
It has taken 2 1/2 years to initiate programmes in the Lake Magadi region of Kenya with the people of this area who live very difficult lives in harsh conditions.
The cost in trees to supply Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, with charcoal is 5000 trees per day, and most of this charcoal has been coming out of the Lake Magadi area in the last five years, which is turning this area into a virtual desert.
The project, now finally launched thanks to GlobalGiving donors will enable us to reverse this disaster, reverse this desert in the making, and contribute to improving the lives of the people in this beautiful location, while also enabling them to survive the effects of global climate change.
We have been able to establish our project camp which consists of staff tents and facilities, and is entirely solar-powered, including all lighting and water pumps. A propagation shed and tree nursery are now operating and demonstration plots are about to be established to show how our process works to the local communities of this region.
Masai clans from as far away as Tanzania have been coming to see this facility. There is a lot of excitement about this project in this location.
Thank you GlobalGiving donors for your contribution to mitigating against global climate change.
Adam Tuller
Chairman
Africa Conservation Trust
February 2007 update to GlobalGiving
By Adam Tuller - Project leader, February 28, 2007 01:38 PM
Please click below to read updates and see photos from the conservation project's work in Kenya!
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