Solar-Powered ICT Lab Opens at Kongoni School to Boost Digital and Conservation Learning in Tsavo, Kenya

TAITA TAVETA, Kenya — Learners at Kongoni Comprehensive School in Taita Taveta County now have access to a new solar-powered Information and Communication Technology (ICT) lab equipped with 21 desktop computers and internet connectivity.

The facility positions the school as a model for integrating digital access, conservation education, and community resilience in the Tsavo Landscape, where young people grow up alongside one of Kenya’s most iconic wildlife areas. The lab was built by the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) in partnership with the Wildlife Clubs of Kenya (WCK), with significant contributions from Community & Wildlife Conservation (CWC).

Speaking at the launch, Lorina Mwabili, the Kongoni Comprehensive School Headteacher, said, “This ICT lab is opening a gateway for the next chapter of education in our area. It expands access to digital learning, improves classroom engagement, and strengthens how students connect education with conservation.”

A representative from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Zainabu Salim, Assistant Director for Conservation Education, also underscored the importance of investing in young people living in wildlife landscapes, saying, “When we empower children growing up in wildlife areas, we are investing in the future of conservation itself. These learners are at the frontline of coexistence, and digital access and conservation education gives them the right tools.”

The new ICT lab is part of the Young Conservation Heroes project, implemented by AWF and WCK with support from Bob and Emmy King, American philanthropists widely engaged in education initiatives. The project is working with 137 schools across the Tsavo Landscape to equip learners with conservation knowledge, digital skills, and practical exposure that can support biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management.

Kongoni Comprehensive School is one of two institutions selected as Centers of Excellence to receive integrated infrastructural and technical support, demonstrating conservation education beyond normal classroom learning and serving as a learning hub for neighboring schools and communities.

Through the project, Kongoni Comprehensive School has also received improved sanitation facilities, and protective fencing. The fencing is intended to promote safety and resilience in an area where learning is prone to disruption due to wildlife movement, particularly during dry seasons.

AWF Kenya Country Director Nancy Githaiga said the investment reflects the need to prepare young people for the conservation challenges and opportunities shaping their communities.

“As we look to the future, empowering young people with the right tools and knowledge is key to ensuring long-term conservation impact,” Githaiga said.

For communities around Tsavo, the investment also reinforces the role of schools in preparing young people to understand, protect, and benefit from the landscapes they call home. 

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The Young Conservation Heroes project is implemented by AWF and WCK with support from Bob and Emmy King. The Young Conservation Heroes project continues to position schools as critical spaces for shaping conservation awareness, fostering environmental responsibility, and building a generation capable of leading sustainable solutions for people and wildlife. 

Media Contact:  
Eileen Kairu
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