You know those stories our grandfathers tell us about walking barefoot 10 miles to school every day? Well there are still kids today who actually do that, and are smiling when they get there because they’re ecstatic to have the chance to better themselves with education. Since 2001, I’ve been lucky enough to work with a non-profit called Amara Conservation that supports education and conservation projects in Kenya that help both children and adults learn how conserving the wildlife of Kenya not only benefits the animals, but benefits the economic future of the country itself. Amara works on a variety of projects with organizations like the Kenya Wildlife Service, the African Environmental Film Foundation , and RadioActive UK. As well as ongoing community education with a mobile film projection unit since 2002, Amara’s key strategy is to identify achievable and self-sustaining programs, and then coordinate with other Kenya NGO’s and agencies to facilitate and fund them. We’re entering our 10th year this year, and so far have three fund-raising events in the works; two in Ann Arbor, MI, and one in the UK in June. The Ann Arbor events include our 10th annual fundraiser dinner at the Earle restaurant May 23, and a more casual night of music at a local club (acts and venue TBA). We’re always looking for volunteers, so if you have a passion for supporting wildlife or education programs and live in Ann Arbor or Chicago, contact us either through Dissociated Press or through Amara’s web site. If you’re not interested in volunteering and still want to help out, you can always make a donation via Amara’s web site.

Amara team member Isaac Maina is a perfect example of Amara’s approach at work. Imagine a kid in a country like Kenya reaching all the way around the globe to win a Disney Conservation Hero award. I live in the states with all the resources that puts at my fingertips, and doubt that Disney will ever hand me an award…