Kenya

In the Kajiado region, we support the MAA Eroret School, a school for Maasai children. The children there not only receive an education, but also a hot free lunch – for many of them the only meal of the day. They are also taught about and strengthened in their Maasai culture. Thanks to the newly built boarding school, girls from distant areas can now also attend classes regularly.

The construction of a well in 2023 by Austrian Doctors was a major step forward. This made it possible to start an agricultural project in 2024: the fields around the school are now used to grow their own vegetables – an important contribution to the school’s food security. At the same time, the pupils receive practical training in modern agricultural methods.

We are also countering the dramatic consequences of climate change, which are particularly serious in Kenya, with sustainable measures: in 2024, Austrian Doctors launched a reforestation program to counteract the increasing drought and soil erosion and secure livelihoods in the long term.

In another rural, disadvantaged region – Kisumu – we support a nursery school and a community center. Regular workshops are held there on important topics such as family planning, sexual health, women’s rights and climate change. The programs give the local people important insights to improve their living conditions independently.

Additionally we are offering basic medical care in both project regions.

Help in the rural regions of Kenya

Kenya is located in East Africa and has a population of around 58 million. Many of the large companies are owned by foreign investors, while the local population usually only finds poorly paid jobs. As a result, the gap between rich and poor is widening. Especially in rural areas, people have few job opportunities and the situation has deteriorated even further due to long periods of drought. The largest economic sector is agriculture.

Climate change is a major problem for the many small farmers, as rainfall is no longer regular and has become unpredictable. Many children have to leave school at a young age in order to go to work. Particularly in the very remote regions, it is often the case that children do not have the opportunity to receive an education at all, despite being required to attend school.

By supporting the MAA Eroret School and the Mary Hill Nursery School, we are helping to ensure that children in the region have the right to an education. Accompanying workshops at the Mary Hill Community Center, which are held jointly with other local NGOs, enable the adult population to learn new methods in agriculture, for example, so that they can better provide for their families themselves.

Our projects

MAA Eroret School

Austrian Doctors has been a partner of the MAA Eroret School in Loodoriak, Kenya, since 2017. MAA Eroret School is a school where over 300 children are taught. An opportunity to improve their lives sustainably.

Eroret Boarding School

For many girls in rural regions of Kenya, attending school remains a daily challenge. Long, often dangerous journeys to school, a lack of infrastructure and family obligations mean that many schoolgirls are unable to complete their education. To change this, we have launched a new project: A boarding school for girls at MAA Eroret School in Loodoriak, Kenya.

Eroret School agricultural project

Thanks to a well built by Austrian Doctors at MAA Eroret School in 2023, it was possible to start an agricultural project in 2024. By cultivating the fields around the school, the majority of the school meals can be grown by the pupils themselves. It will also give pupils the opportunity to receive practical training in modern farming methods.

Reforestation in Kenya

The consequences of climate change, which we are already feeling strongly in Austria, are much more severe in countries like Kenya. To counteract the associated problems, the Austrian Doctors launched a reforestation program in 2024.

Water projects in Kenya

The construction of solar-powered wells at our two project areas in Kenya has made an important contribution to the independence of the projects. The clean water, which is now available all year round, not only benefits the people, but also enables the expansion of agricultural projects and reforestation programs.

Medical projects in Kenya

The lack of basic medical care is a major issue in Kenya. Some of the biggest challenges include HIV, malnutrition, malaria, and FGM – to name just a few. At both of our project sites in Kenya, we are therefore also actively engaged in providing medical support.

Mary Hill Nursery School

Here, over 80 children have the opportunity to be carefree and safe, are allowed to play and are supervised by trained teachers. As a healthy diet is particularly important for young children, they are given a nutritious snack and lunch.

Mary Hill Community Center

The Community Center offers workshops on family planning, sexual health, women's rights, climate change and much more. This enables the adult population to learn new methods in agriculture, for example, so that they can better provide for their families themselves.

School meals for children

Malnourished children are particularly susceptible to infections. In our schools, we therefore provide children with nutritious meals to strengthen their immune system.

News of our work in Kenya