Laying the [Angama] Foundation for Education

This month stands out as one of my most fulfilling at Angama Amboseli — a time when the Angama Foundation directly changed the course of 45 young lives. The Angama Foundation Bursary Fund was able to rescue bright students from dropping out of school due to lack of school fees. 

This initiative is more than just paying fees; it’s about building meaningful relationships with students, understanding their personal journeys, and offering support that extends beyond the classroom. 

We don’t wait for updates—we make them a priority. Our team visits the students at their respective schools and builds relationships with their teachers, discussing academic progress and offering additional support where needed. 

All 45 students come from the Kimana community — our landlords and valued neighbours. Out of more than 500 applicants, it was incredibly difficult to select candidates, but with the guidance of the Kimana Sanctuary Land Committee and the expertise of the Big Life Foundation's Education Committee, we were able to identify the most deserving candidates through a transparent and fair selection process. 

Big Life has been mentoring students in this region for over a decade, and their guidance and mentorship were instrumental in helping us establish a transparent and fair selection process. 

With the dedication and insight of our incredible educators — Elvis Otieno, Cleophas Omollo, Victor Oduor — and our passionate Community Education Officer, Nelson Ngida, we’ve been able to walk alongside these students. Together, we identify challenges at school and at home and offer guidance every step of the way. 

Through regular visits, team-building sessions, and mentorship programmes, we’re nurturing a strong sense of connection and cohesion among the students. We’re also in the process of setting up a small library, giving students the opportunity to borrow revision materials that will help them succeed in their exams. 

Special thanks go to our Head Guide, Alice Mantaine, who mentors the girls, and Head of Security, Mark Kakui, who mentors the boys. Together, they visited all 13 schools across the county, and every name, story, and classroom was seen and heard.

And to our guests: this is your impact, too. None of this would be possible without your generous support. Every stay at Angama helps fund these life-changing initiatives, proving that hospitality and community upliftment go hand in hand.

With Angama Amboseli being a relatively new lodge in the area, this is only the beginning. We believe in the power of education to transform not just individual lives, but entire communities. We can’t wait to see what these 45 students accomplish as they thrive and become leaders in the Kimana community.