Education – Ewaso Lions

Jeremy Lucas Education Fund

Ewaso Lions recognises the critical link between education and conservation. While we firmly hold to the belief that tomorrow’s wildlife leaders must be equipped with a solid education today, we are coming to redefine what a solid education means. We have noticed that formal education in cultural landscapes has had a rather deleterious effect. Instead of empowering children to make informed choices, it has divorced them from their culture and their landscape, instilled a capitalistic mind-set which has led too many scholarship children in the landscape down a grave path of seeking profit over all else, unravelling the gains that were expected for the culture and biodiversity of the landscape.

Set up in 2017, the Jeremy Lucas Education Fund (JLEF) enables young teenagers in Samburu and Isiolo counties in Northern Kenya to have secondary and tertiary education. Each year many of the children who complete primary education cannot afford secondary school fees and all the associated costs such as school books and stationery, uniforms and transport to and from school. Donations raised through this fund gives young people a chance to further their education. It goes a long way to improving their lives and their futures. We couple this formal education with a strong internship and mentorship link with Ewaso Lions, ensuring that as they learn, they do not forget their culture, and do not devalue where they came from.

About Jeremy

Educating youth, empowering communities, encouraging conservation.

On 28 July 2016 my husband Jeremy passed away after a two-year battle with cancer. Jeremy was a lovely, kind man and part of his legacy was a sum of money with which I have set up this education fund in his name for children in Kenya.

Jeremy loved Kenya – and he especially loved Samburu – the land, the people, the wildlife. And, he was embraced by all the people he met there. Just as he had taken Samburu to his heart – the Samburu people had taken him to their hearts.

With the money raised through the fund I am particularly keen to give young people (mainly girls) a chance to further education. I believe that if you educate a girl today, you empower a woman of tomorrow – and change lives of future generations.

Jeremy was always surrounded by strong women. His mother was a resilient, determined woman. And then there is me and my sister Shivani. Both of us are independent, determined in our respective fields – and know our own minds!

Jeremy liked that and celebrated strength in all the women he met. I think Jeremy would approve of a fund set up in his name – predominantly to give girls a chance to grow, learn, achieve, succeed and be independent.

It is a legacy that he would be proud of.

Shalini Bhalla

Meet The Students

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Ewaso Lions continues to provide support, mentorship and career guidance for our students. Since inception, the programme has sponsored a total of 19 students, with 3 new students joining in 2024. Our alumni have transitioned to different career paths and have become ambassadors of conservation.

Meet some of our students:

Solomon Lenasalia
Watch this video to hear about Solomon’s story: https://youtu.be/gyQuok9AAwA
Saniki Lelenkeju
Saniki is from Sasaab Village in Samburu. She completed a Certificate course in Tour Guiding and Administration from the Coast Institute of Technology in 2020. She has since been employed as a Guest Relation’s Officer by Elephant Bedroom Camp in Samburu. She has previously worked with Mara Ngenche camp in the same capacity and is a great example of an ambassador for wildlife.
Eunice Njokunoi
Eunice is from Ngutuk Ol Muget in Meibae Conservancy. She was sponsored for 4 years of secondary education and is now starting her final semester at Kabarak University where she is studying for a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications.
Junior Lekirmui
Junior is from Westgate Conservancy and completed high school level studies in 2022. In 2023, he interned with Ewaso Lions in different programmes including Lion Kids Camps. Junior joined the Wildlife Research Training Institute in 2024 for a 1 year course in Nature Administration.
Veronica Lolokoru
Veronica, from Lerata in Kalama Conservancy, has started her third year at Kenyatta University studying for a BSC degree in Community Resource Management. She has completed a three month internship with Reteti Elephant Sanctuary where she was studying the local community’s goat milk programme.
Nicholas Lesootia
Nicholas, who is from Lorubae in Kalama Conservancy, finished his studies at the Wildlife Research Training Institute with a Diploma in Wildlife Management in 2023. He is now working as Kura’s Pride Officer.
Jonathan Lenairewa
Jonathan, from Ngutuk Ongiron in Westgate Conservancy, completed his secondary education in 2022 and interned with our Research Department at Ewaso Lions before joining Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology in late 2023.

Please do get in touch with us at info@ewasolions.org if you are interested in sponsoring a student.