How education is shaping the future of conservation in Amboseli

In partnership with community leaders, IFAW launched the OOGR–IFAW scholarship project to support promising young people facing financial barriers to higher education. By opening doors to further education, the project is helping cultivate future professionals, community leaders, and conservation champions whose knowledge and leadership can strengthen local livelihoods and support the long-term stewardship of the Amboseli landscape. 

More than a decade later, the results are both measurable and deeply human.

Opening doors to education 

Scholars have pursued studies in fields including environmental science, wildlife management, veterinary medicine, education, health, and civil engineering, building skills that can contribute to stronger communities and a more resilient landscape. 

From education to impact 

The impact of the scholarship programme extends far beyond the classroom. 

Approximately 15–20% of graduates have pursued careers in conservation and environmental sciences, including wildlife conservation and environmental management. Among them is Cecilia Parsae, whose journey demonstrates the transformative power of opportunity. 

Growing up in a pastoral Maasai community, Cecilia faced significant barriers to completing her education. After becoming a young mother, she persevered through stigma and financial hardship, eventually earning a place in secondary school. When the cost of university threatened to end her education once again, the IFAW scholarship provided the support she needed to continue. 

Cecilia studied at Egerton University and qualified as a veterinary paraprofessional. Today, she works with the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, contributing to wildlife health, research, and conservation. Her story shows how investing in education can create pathways from opportunity to leadership and, in Cecilia’s case, directly to conservation impact. 

But conservation careers are only part of the picture. Strong, resilient communities depend on people with diverse skills and expertise. 

Health and medical sciences account for the largest share of graduates, at approximately 25–30%. These graduates are strengthening community health systems through careers in clinical medicine, nursing, public health, and health records. 

A further 25–30% have entered education and social sciences, working as teachers, social workers, community development practitioners, and other professionals who strengthen local knowledge, social cohesion, and community capacity. 

The remaining 20–25% have pursued business, entrepreneurship, and other professional careers, contributing to economic resilience and creating opportunities that can reduce reliance on natural resources. 

When one person is lifted, many rise  

Raised by a single mother who depended on small-scale farming, Vincent qualified for university but faced the reality that his family could not afford tuition. The scholarship enabled him to study Health Records and Information Management at Kenyatta University, where he graduated with First Class Honours. 

Today, Vincent works in the health sector while pursuing a master’s degree in public health. His work supports health systems, data quality, and evidence-based decision-making, while his research focuses on improving health outcomes in his home region. He has also supported his siblings through school and helped strengthen his family’s economic stability. 

As Vincent puts it, “When one person is lifted, many others rise with them.” 

Meshack Tetile represents the promise of the project’s next generation. After achieving an A plain in secondary school, Meshack’s ambition to study medicine was threatened by financial constraints. Through the IFAW scholarship, he secured the opportunity to pursue a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Nairobi. 

His goal extends beyond personal achievement. Meshack hopes to improve access to healthcare in his community and support other young people facing barriers to education. 

A lasting investment in people and nature 

The OOGR–IFAW scholarship programme demonstrates how investing in education can strengthen communities and contribute to conservation for generations to come. 

By investing in young people like Meshack, Cecilia, and Vincent, the programme is helping build a skilled and empowered generation. Some will work directly in conservation. Others will strengthen healthcare, education, local economies, and families. Together, they contribute to communities with greater capacity and opportunity to shape the future of the landscapes they call home. 

Through Room to Roam, IFAW recognises that lasting conservation depends on both wildlife and people having the opportunity to thrive. By investing in the next generation, we are helping ensure communities have the knowledge, skills, and agency to lead that future.