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2003 Project News |
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The Amara Mobile Film Unit did two short reconnaissance tours in August and October 2003. We visited 21 schools and communities and showed the film to approximately 3,000 people, mostly at primary and secondary schools near the Maasai Mara and the town of Voi on the border of Tsavo National Park.
 Lori with the UK Minister of the Environment, Elliott Morley, and Ian Saunders of the AEFF |
We worked with Peter Kimau and Evanson Kariuki of the Anne K Taylor Desnaring Team in the Mara, and with Isaac Maina and Jacob Dadi who work for the Sheldrick Trust (Isaac is the leader the Bura Desnaring Team in and around Tsavo). It was inspiring to see the sense of hope that Isaac and other young native Kenyans seem to have since the presidential elections of a year ago. The message Amara is bringing, that the wildlife of Kenya must be preserved not only because this is the environmentally correct thing to do, but because it is vital to Kenya's economy, really seems to hit home when the message is being conveyed by both Amara staff and native Kenyans. It's easy for us to forget in the states that we've wiped out most of the native carnivores of North America. Imagine if the same were to happen in Kenya. The mistakes we've made are a sad but powerful lesson to the young people of Kenya who can make a difference.
 Quite A Turnout! |
At one of the film showings at the very remote Leparua
School on Il Ngwesi Group Ranch in Northern Kenya, we were graced by a
visit from the U.K. Minister of the Environment, Elliot Morley, and the
Permanent Attaché from the British High Commission. We discussed
at some length the environmental issues of Kenya and he was inspired by
some of the projects he'd seen on his whirlwind trip around the country.
He was very enthusiastic in support of our project and Lori enjoyed sharing
some of her experiences with him. Interestingly, in addition to seeing
firsthand some of the best conservation works in Kenya, he regarded his
trip as a testimony to the fact that Kenya is a wonderful and safe place
to visit - pursuant to the recent UK drop of a travel advisory and the
US Government's maintenance of it's own advisory against travel. Also
in attendance was Ian Saunders of the AEFF. A special visit, as in spite
of the fact that the AEFF produces the films Amara is showing with the
Mobile Film Unit, this was the first time anyone from the AEFF had had
the opportunity to see our film unit in action.
We plan to do another tour in mid January/February, showing the films
for over a month in a comprehensive effort in communities bordering Tsavo.
On this tour we'll be doing more intensive survey work utilizing materials
created specifically for the project by Kenyan PhD students in the Michigan
State University School of Education. With the results of these surveys,
we intend to move forward with plans to add another unit, as well as designing
supplemental educational materials to enhance the reach of the project.