Partnership Overview
The partnership between Mpala Research Centre and Daraja Academy builds on shared visions of empowering youth, advancing education, and promoting conservation efforts within Kenya. Rooted in a common commitment to equity, sustainability, and opportunity, this collaboration provides Daraja students with immersive, hands-on exposure to environmental conservation, research, and professional development.
Key Areas of Collaboration
Internships & Mentorship
Mpala hosts Daraja students through its Transition Program, offering conservation-focused internships and career mentorship. Mpala’s researchers and scholars also guide students in navigating scholarship and international university applications. From April-June 2025, Mpala hosted two interns, Shakira Mwendwa and Caroline Mwende, who rotated between projects and gained hands-on lab and field experience at Mpala.
Conservation Education & Research Engagement
Daraja students benefit from monthly research dissemination sessions, termly class immersions at Mpala, and interactive programming aligned with international environmental days. These initiatives are designed to connect classroom learning with real-world science.
Daraja Conservation Club
With Mpala’s support, Daraja is revitalizing its Conservation Club. This includes helping to design a tailored, measurable curriculum—complete with training sessions and student certifications.
Renewable Energy Learning
Inspired by Mpala’s 150KW/hr solar-powered campus, Daraja is exploring renewable energy integration. Mpala provides technical guidance and peer learning to support this transition.
Event Co-hosting & Outreach
Mpala and Daraja will co-plan school-wide Conservation Days, sharing research insights with students and educators from across the region.