An Act of Service: Sarova Shaba's Community Good Deed
From white sandy beaches along the Indian Ocean coast to the imposing vastness of untamed African savannah, Sarova Hotels & Resorts has been fortunate over the years to offer magical getaways & epic adventures within these unrivaled landscapes. Landscapes where local communities live and for whom without, the success of our brand would not be possible.
Changing lives, one action at a time.
Within the Shaba National Reserve in Isiolo County North of Kenya is the Sarova Shaba Game Lodge, set in an amazing oasis that truly contrasts the surrounding arid area - one that despite the dry woodlands still holds a captivating allure. Our Lodge shares this ecosystem with the Samburus, Turkanas and Boranas, colorful (thanks to their beaded ornaments) pastoralist communities that rely on livestock keeping for their livelihood. Due to their predominantly traditional & cultural lifestyles in an area that’s mostly reserved for wild game, access to education for their children is limited.
The Daaba Primary school is one of the few learning facilities in the area that has served the larger community and one that Sarova Shaba has had a strong footprint in since 2011.
One lovely morning this past November, the wonderful staff of the Lodge would return bearing festive gifts for the children as a continuation of its sustainable efforts towards the school. Previously, Sarova Shaba has constructed two brick classrooms & provided desks and crockery aiding in access to education for hundreds of children for generations to come. Not to mention an alumnus of the school is part of the food & beverage service staff employed at the Lodge. During the recent visit, the team reconnected with the school to re-establish the bond severed by COVID-19. Excited class 8 candidates, composed of 19 girls and 7 boys would receive motivational talks and better yet, 10 bales of maize flour for lunch during exams while the girls also received much needed sanitary packs. Nothing could beat seeing the smiles on the young, impressionable faces.
There's plenty yet to be done at Daaba Primary School and 2023 looks promising as we continue with this interdependent way of life. We look forward to furnishing the head teacher with a shiny new desk and providing shelves and books for the school library. It is for the lovely smiles the children gave our visiting staff that Sarova strives to enrich the lives in each of our host communities - giving back through initiatives that preserve our heritage, restore natural resources and provide socio-economic gains through impactful activities.
"There's no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people" - John Holmes