Conserving my Experiences

One of my original aims in coming to Arocha Kenya was to learn a little about conservation and I think I’ve achieved that aim. I have learnt about conservation – a little.

I’ve begun to understand the importance of birds and studying birds in measuring the effects of climate change. I’ve learnt a bit about turtles, the different types – Olive Ridley, Hawksbill, Leatherback and Green. Albert and Aaron were at Malindi harbour conducting the annual waterfowl count over the weekend and Aaron found a dead Leatherback turtle on the beach. It was only the second one to ever be found there, both have been found dead. This one had head injuries consistent with being hit, no doubt fishermen were trying to untangle it from their net. Hawksbill are the most endangered species while Leatherbacks are the largest turtle, this one was 80 cm across and 170cm long. The fishermen kill them because otherwise they’ll damage the nets and their therefore their livelihoods. Watamu Turtle Watch, across the road from us operate a system where they pay each fisherman a small amount if they call Turtle Watch to come and rescue the turtle instead of killing it. I’ve also seen conservation work going hand in hand with poverty alleviation through ASSETS which A Rocha runs. I’ve realised you can’t have one without the other.

I’ve been frustrated by the amount of rubbish I’ve had to throw away because there’s no recycling infrastructure in Kenya. I’ve also been inspired by the culture of re-using there is here and determined not to drop so much into the recycling bin in future and tell myself I’m doing a good deed.

I’ve seen mangroves for the first time, swum over a damaged coral reef, learnt why you shouldn’t feed the monkeys (it’s all to do with seed dispersion) and discovered that Neem and Jacaranda are good woods but you should never buy Mahogany or Ebony (I don’t think there’s much left of either now anyway).

Otherwise I’ve surprised myself by learning new computer skills (it’s normally a fight to get onto the computer here). I’ve learnt about Kenya and East Africa, I’ve picked up Swahili kidogo sana. I’ve learnt more about North American geography and culture than I thought I would. I must find out what a ‘banana pepper’ is. And I guess I can now share a room with someone without going crazy.

I think it’s safe to say my time here hasn’t been wasted. I wish I’d been able to contribute more but the structure and organisation of this place actually make it difficult to leave any lasting improvements with the exception of handing over hard cash. I wish I’d got to know people better, especially the incredibly hardworking and talented field staff there are here and been less involved in tasks and more with people. I wish I could have learnt more Swahili and more about protecting the environment. This is what I’m really interested in back in the UK, although I think I’ll have greater respect for our wildlife now, such as it is. Africa might be officially a poor continent but they have something in abundance that we don’t have so much of in Europe – sun. If someone was to cover East Africa in solar panels surely they’d be making so much energy they could sell it back to us (and when our coal and gas finally runs out they’d be naming the price too…) But it would need someone or some people to provide the infrastructure in the first place, and who would be prepared to do this?


For Those Who Pray

Thank God I've been so blessed while I've been here and had the chance to do so many new and exciting things! And He's kept me well and safe this whole time. Pray I'll have the courage to listen to Him when I get home regarding what I should do next.

Pray for Kenya, the teachers' strike is over I think but not all pay issues yet resolved. There are food shortages in some areas, especially in the North where it's very dry they are having to hand out food parcels.

Pray for continued peace here and no repeats of the post-election violence of last year.

Pray for ARK that they get awarded the much needed grants they've applied for this year, that Colin (the director) and Roni will soon be back and the staff will feel encouraged about a new era at Mwamba.

Pray for safety for me - I'm leaving Mwamba on Tuesday and travelling on my own for a while, always a bit risky but God has kept me safe this far and I'm sure he'll bring me home :)