1. What is Woni Education Trust and how long have you been in operation?

Woni Educational Trust is an initiative of Woni Safaris. Woni Education Trust was founded in 2004 to address education, deforestation and environmental degradation. While working in Kenya we realized that the problems requiring food aid were not being solved, and were even worsening. Research indicated that deforestation and the resultant loss of soil fertility were primary causes. Woni Educational Trust, was developed to meet the environmental, economic, and spiritual needs of the rural people of Kenya. Since then, Woni Education Trust has expanded continuing the vision of its founders.

2. Where do you work?

We currently work in 2 communities in Kenya. We are continually expanding our work into more communities, and we are currently exploring working in more communities.

3. How do we decide where to work?

Education is a serious problem in many countries around the world. Woni Education Trust uses matrix of needs to ascertain where we can be most effective. These needs include the rate and extent of deforestation, governmental corruption, and the percentage of people living on less than one dollar per day.
We focus our efforts on places where extreme poverty in the region is caused or exacerbated by environmental devastation. This is where our programs and expertise can most effectively bring about lasting transformation.

4. Why do you plant trees?

Whenever we begin work in a new community, we always include planting trees because it is one of the most effective components of sustainable rural development. Although seemingly simple, planting trees is one of the most important things we do. By restoring productivity to the land, planting trees gives the rural poor a sustainable means to provide for themselves. Farmers are able to grow more crops. More crops mean they can feed their families and have extra to sell in town. As their incomes start to grow, farmers are able to invest in their household condition and send their children to school. Their families enjoy better nutrition and better health.

Trees provide many benefits to both land and people, but one of their most vital roles is protecting our water supply. Without trees, water resources vanish. More than one billion people around the world lack access to clean water, and we are able to rectify this situation simply by planting trees. Tree roots act as a sponge, allowing water to soak into the ground and springs, rivers and streams begin to flow. They also act as a filter, purifying the water we drink. They improve soil quality, and therefore the productivity of the land. They also protect against erosion, landslides and flash flooding, and are a critical part of the revolutionary style of agriculture that we teach in the communities we work with.

5. Do you plant native trees?

Wherever possible. Where the soil is often too degraded to plant native trees, we plant fast-growing trees that can help farmers to quickly realize income. These are grown to provide wood products that would otherwise come from the native forest. We also plant a variety of native trees, including mahogany. Elsewhere we plant native pine, oak, cedar and other trees indigenous to the region we are working.

6. Is educating all you do?

No, Educating people is just one part of an intergrated program of sustainable development. We highly consider education in the local villages as it is inadequate to the elders, young adults and children who need for a better and more promising future.
Tree planting is a high priority which we also consider because it is the simplest form of sustainable development there is, restoring productivity to the land, and giving the rural poor a sustainable means to provide for themselves. Restoring the natural environment also influences the quality of life in a variety of ways—providing clean water, for example.

As our focus shifts from the sustainable development of families to the sustainable development of entire villages, the community takes over and Woni Education Trust takes on more of an advisory role. This is where things really get exciting as families start to work together to improve local infrastructure, and invest in and protect the natural resources of their community. Our greatest reward is a community that doesn’t need us anymore.

7. Why do you focus on agriculture?

Most of the people we work with make their entire living from what they can grow in their fields. Their farms and fields are the center of their lives. We can often help them to double or triple their yields by implementing a few simple techniques. We teach them sustainable agriculture techniques because the farming style they often use depletes the land, leading to greater poverty and forced migration.

8. Do you practice organic agriculture?

Yes, as much as we can. We discourage the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and teach successful, organic ways to avoid the use of harmful chemicals.

9. Where does your support come from?

About three quarters of our support comes from former clients of Woni Safaris and the remaining quarter from Woni Safaris.

10. Is my gift tax-deductible?

Yes! Woni Educational Trust will send you a tax receipt once your transaction has been processed. If you have any questions, please contact us.

11. What do Organisations think of you?

Woni Educational Trust staff work hard to develop constructive relationships with local and national governments. In fact, we have received grants from the Global Water and U.S Rotary Club.