Wildlife Clubs Of Kenya

News

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Wildlife Clubs of Kenya, Kenya Wildlife Service, Juhudi Childrens' Club and Serena hotels organised a one week trip for the youth of the Wildlife Clubs in Nairobi region to mark the Animal Action Week whose theme was "Saving the Last Elephants". This trip was sponsored by IFAW and the children enjoyed themselves in a unique learning way. They learnt how to age elephants which was demonstrated by Cynthia Moss an elephant researcher based in Amboseli. They later planted trees in Amboseli National Park on an ongoing programme of greening Amboseli. The Kenyan television station Kenya Television Network (KTN) on a teens' programme popularly known as Club Kiboko covered this programme.

The Animal Action Day was held at the National Museums of Kenya Luis Leakey Auditorium. Over 1,500 students from Nairobi who filled the hall to its full capacity attended the function. Two people of distinguished repute towards wildlife conservation were awarded at the function, Francis Kithure and Anne Ndunge, read their Achievements below.

IFAW solicited for nominations of some special someone who has done something outstanding for Elephants and other animals. This could be devoting his/her life to saving or campaining tirelessly for those animals. The aim of Animal Action Award is to recognise the work of such an exceptional person, and we got nominations justifying why that person should receive this prestigious award. It was agreed that there should be an award for adults as well as the younger generation - so this year we have two winners of the Animal Action Award

Francis Kithure - It was unanimously agreed by the panel of judges that Francis Kithure based in Maua in meru, and nominated by Mercy Nkatha of Meru is the winner.

Kithure's passion for animals spans over a decade, and he has commited this time , energy nad resources for the welfare of animals. He has been on the forefront of saving animals like Bushbucks, Dikdiks, among others. He once came across an orphaned Bushbuck when the mother was hunted down. From his own pocket, he took care and fed the young one for 21 Days and then handed it over to Meru National Park.

He has mobilised communities in his area to start viable conservation projects to save their national heritage from extinction. Kithure is the co-ordinator of Mbututia Conservetion Forum, and is currently researching on past species of Mbututia wetland with the hope that one day, those species will be reintroduced.

He is looking into the Sitatunga species as one for re-introduction.The wetlands has also proved to be a budding tourist attraction. Kithure is a teacher at Thitha Secondary School, a patron of Wildlife Clubs of Kenya for the same school. At the silghtest opportunity, he takes his club members for visists to parks and other areas where they can learn firsthand about wildlife.

Could Francis Kithure be upstanding and kindly come forward and receive your much-deserved Animal Action Award. Congratulations Mr Kithure!

Jane Ndunge - Not to be left behind is Jane Ndunge of Wankan Academy in Ruiuru, who was nominated by Sacdever Misiani of Gesima in Kisii.

Ndunge, according to Sacdever, has put a mark on Kenya's Wildlife owing to many activities she has engaged in. She writes well. So well that she won an award for an essay she had wriiten, and for this got an opportunity to join other students in participating in greening Amboseli National Park by planting tree in conjuction with Amboseli Serena Lodge staff.

Her talent is not limiting to the pen. She speaks well too and was an outstanding opponent to a debate on Ivory trade. This is not the first nor the second award to Ndunge. She was Miss Environment 2003 after she put her writing talent to task-the essays were on water and forest resources.

Ndunge is a budding lawyer and hopefully will grow to be an advocate for the environment.

Could Jane Ndunge be upstanding and kindly come forward and receive your -deserved yourg generation Animal Action Award

WCK launches a new training programme
DIPLOMA IN HOTEL AND RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT COURSE.

A new course a joint programme between the Wildlife Clubs of Kenya (WCK) - Centre for Tourism Training & Research (CTTR), Sarova Hotels Ltd and Moi University School of Business & Management has been launched. This is the first training initiative between industry and academia as well as being the first sandwich
tourism training. Because the course is modular, the trainees have the unique opportunity to alternate between classes at CTTR and in house training at Sarova Hotels every other semester. Moi University School of Business Studies participates in the curriculum, lectures, and the examinations.

Through this programme Sarova Hotels have shown what industry can do in capacity building in this country. They are not passive recipients of graduates but active participants in training through investing in the people of this country and improving the quality of training.

During the launch at The Stanley Hotel on Friday April 30, 2004, Mrs. Rebecca Nabutola, the Permanent Secretary- Ministry of Tourism & Information said this
was a unique approach worth emulation by the players in the industry. "This course is therefore important because it offers students hands on experience while they are still
learning which is a great advantage over students in other institutions. The in-house training that the students will undergo at the Sarova hotels establishments will greatly enhance their skills in the hospitality industry".

She commended the Sarova Group of Hotels, Moi University and Wildlife Clubs of Kenya and declared the course officially launched. The first batch of students is expected to start classes this May 2004.