What we do
SCHOLARSHIPS & grants
Each year, Project Rudisha provides scholarships and grants to help guides and porters build stable careers and navigate seasonal challenges.
Scholarships cover tuition for safari guide school, vocational programs, or a year at a wildlife management college.
During the rainy season, when work on the mountain slows, grants help cover essential expenses like rent, food, and medicine, ensuring guides and porters have the resources they need year-round.
Enrichment Grants
Enrichment grants provide economic development opportunities for guides starting their own businesses or collaborating with tour companies to foster tourism.
Each grant enables recipients to travel to attend conferences or meet with individuals to expand their network. Additionally, these grants support the purchase of land, equipment, and other materials to help grow their businesses.
Gear Drive
The gear drive will collect donations of new and used equipment to take to East Africa and distribute to guides and porters.
The drive will focus on technical hiking gear that is not easily accessible or extremely expensive, including backpacks, base layers, down jackets, technical hiking pants, hiking boots, and other essential gear for alpine mountain climates.
Program Goals
Each program is intended to increase the economic opportunities for the guides and porters working on the mountain.
Scholarships and grants provide tuition or supplement income during the rainy season. Becoming a safari guide provides these individuals with a more sustainable career and an increase in their income.
Enrichment grants are an opportunity to develop their network and business connections. Knowing tourism is a key industry in East Africa, these relationships are essential.
Gear drives provide the essential equipment needed to be safe on the mountain. Proper boots, backpacks, sleeping bags and other technical apparel allow the guides and porters to maintain their health and well being.