Originally from Nyeri and Isiolo respectively, Beatrice Bonareri and Faith Kinya joined Mpala Research Centre through the Daraja Academy Transition Programme, an initiative designed to help recent high school graduates gain real-world professional experience. During their two-month internships, they worked across multiple departments, gaining hands-on exposure to conservation, research, operations, and event coordination.

Together, Beatrice and Faith embraced every opportunity to learn, from supporting field activities and collaborating with different teams to contributing to major events such as the Rhino Range Expansion Workshop. Their time at Mpala strengthened their confidence, communication, teamwork, and professional skills, while introducing them to researchers and conservation practitioners from around the world. Both credit Mpala’s welcoming and collaborative environment for making their internships a transformative experience that will shape their future careers and inspire them to continue learning and growing.

Beatrice Bonareri

Tell us about your background. Where are you from? What brought you to Mpala? Where have you previously studied or conducted research?

I am a form four graduate at Daraja Academy. I did my KCSE last year and this year I was enrolled in a programme at Daraja called the Transition Programme. The program runs for 6 months with two months of internship. It isa platform to career shadow and apply what we’ve been learning in class. We applied to intern at Mpala and we were privileged to get the spot and it has been an amazing learning exposure.

What projects are you currently working on at Mpala? What are your research goals?

I have been working with different departments at Mpala and my aim was to always absorb the knowledge at my disposal and make professional relationships with my mentor.

What is one of your favorite things about working at Mpala?

During Week 2 of my internship, I participated in the Rhino Range Expansion in Kenya Workshop and policy preparation held at Mpala Research Centre from May 4–8, 2026. I presented on “Community and Rhino Interaction: Building Coexistence Together in Laikipia,” highlighting local perspectives, challenges, and success stories in community-led conservation. The presentation was well received by researchers from different countries, and although speaking to senior researchers was initially intimidating, their encouragement helped build my confidence. The experience also strengthened my networking and public speaking skills, and gave me the chance to connect with conservationists and international researchers.

What impact do you believe your time at Mpala will have on your professional career?

My time at Mpala will have a direct impact on my career in film and television production. At the Rhino Range Expansion Workshop held at Mpala Research Centre, I presented to researchers from different countries and worked with different researchers and departments on coordination, registration, and policy review. That experience strengthened my skills in public speaking, project management, and communicating complex topics to diverse audiences, all essential for directing, producing, and managing crews on set. Working across departments also gave me a better understanding of how to collaborate with different teams, which is key in production. Overall, Mpala gave me hands-on experience in storytelling, coordination, and networking that I’ll carry into film and television.

Faith Kinya

Tell us about your background. Where are you from? What brought you to Mpala? Where have you previously studied or conducted research?

I am a class of 2025 high school graduate from Daraja academy. I come from Isiolo county in Kenya. After high school I joined a transition program at Daraja academy which runs from 6 months. The program is about exposing you to what the real world looks like and also gives you an opportunity to apply what you learnt in class to real life. Within the 6 months you are required to complete a 2 month internship. I was lucky enough to apply to Mpala and secure a golden opportunity that has taught me a lot.

What projects are you currently working on at Mpala? What are your research goals?

I have been in different departments and projects within Mpala research center. Every week I was doing something different from the previous week. The shifting from one department or one project to another gave me an opportunity to learn a lot within a period of two months. My main goal was to learn how people run their work on a daily basis and also gain hands-on skills from them.

What is one of your favorite things about working at Mpala?

I am so in love with everything here at Mpala. This is a very good place to work, learn and grow in life. My favorite thing about working here is how Mpala doors are always open to everyone. You can walk to any office and find someone to talk to, always ready to help and guide. This made my stay at Mpala easy because I got help from everyone I reached out to at any point of the stay.

What impact do you believe your time at Mpala will have on your professional career?

My time at Mpala has had a significant impact on my career growth. Through my attachment, I have gained practical experience by working with different departments and participating in field activities. I developed valuable skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, data collection, and understanding how professional organizations operate. The experience has also exposed me to real-world challenges and helped me build confidence in applying what I have learnt in class. The knowledge, skills, and connections I gained at Mpala will guide me in my future career and inspire me to continue growing as a professional.