Marin / Daraja Academy Service Learning 2011: Tuesday evening

Our day started with an early wake up in order to play sports with the girls, which started at six in the morning. We played either soccer or softball. The girls on the soccer team are preparing for the soccer tournament on Thursday, while the girls playing softball are developing their skills.

After a quick breakfast, we joined all of the form ones in four matatus (vans). We headed to Ol Pejeta conservatory, where many MA and Daraja students would see different African animals for the first time. After we packed 15 people in each of the four matatus, we set out on the 45+ minute drive. As soon as we pulled into the conservatory we were greeted by various animals such as gazelles, impalas, giraffes and zebras.

Next, we drove to an enclosed area for chimpanzees that was started by Jane Goodall. The chimps had been rescued from abusive owners, poachers and mistreatment. As we walked along the fence surounding their area we met a group of chimps. One of the chimps, Max, did not seem thrilled with our presence and proceeded to throw sticks at us. We walked into a wooden tower overlooking the chimp area where we learned more about the endangered chimps and the specific chimps living in Ol Pejeta.

After the encounter with our closest relatives, we drove past many animals. We saw worthogs, who ran away at the sight of our matatu. There were heards of zebras, impalas, gazelles and buffalo with the occasional giraffe. We used binoculars to see some of the animals that were far away. However, many of the animals came very close to the matatu. As we passed each new animal, I heard the delighted screams of many of the girls, both MA and Daraja students, in the car.

As we came close to the end of the road, we saw a group of rhinos. We later learned we saw four of the last seven northern white rhinos in the world. We also saw several black rhinos. Even in the distance, we could tell they were huge. Almost everyone in my matatu had never seen a rhino before.

We pulled in to have lunch next to our next destination. After lunch, we headed into the 140 acre pen for Ol Pejeta's blind black rhino, Baraka. Baraka means blessing in Swahili. Baraka was born in Ol Pejeta. After a fight with a fellow rhino, the vets of Ol Pejeta found out that Baraka was completely blind. They trained him for one year in a small fenced area until he was able to be released into his current pen. We walked up onto a wooden platform and, to our left, we spotted Baraka sleeping. The guide walked over to Baraka and enticed him with sugarcane. Baraka followed the sound of the guide until he reached the wooden platform where we were allowed to feed and pet him. It was an incredible experience.

After the visit with Baraka, we headed back out of Ol Pejeta. However, on our way back we cam within feet of a young male lion lying in the grass. We were all amazed by the large cat. One girl shouted, “Oh wow! The king of animals!” We drove a little further and spotted an elephant coming out of the trees. The huge animal just stood there and seemed to pose for all of the pictures.

Our trip was a success; we saw four out of the big five of Africa: a lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino. The only one missing was a leopard. It was great to experience this trip with 26 of the Daraja girls. Although it is such a close drive, many of them had never seen any of the animals.

We returned to Daraja and the MA students went to their respective projects, such as WISH, bench and table building and plastering the Shamba shed.

We culminated the night with a meeting with all of the MA students and the Daraja form ones. We went around in a circle and said something we thought was exciting and something we learned. The girls could not stop adding new facts about the day's experiences.

We miss home, but, as we hear the Daraja girls begging us to either extend our visit or stay in Kenya forever, we realize that we are changing these girls' lives for the better.

Posted by Julian Smith

One of the citizens of the Chimpanzee rescue center -
don't worry about the fence, that's just to protect us. The
area that they roam in is about the size of the Tiburon peninsula!