The Kesho Trust has three specific priorities:
- Community-based Conservation: We work on the principle that improved conservation is integral to healthy, sustainable communities. We are engaged in efforts to improve resource utilization practices [e.g. agriculture and forestry], expand renewable energy production, improve efficiency of water use, promote recycling, and improve waste management. These efforts are all important if natural ecosystems on which human activity depends are to remain healthy and productive. We believe the necessary approach is to integrate human activity compatibly into environments rather than impose it at the expense of natural processes.
- Economic and Community Development: At the core of sustainability is the need for people to improve their condition and provide adequately for their families. People must be able to achieve personal income goals through environmentally friendly ways if practices that are currently degrading the environmental and contributing to the breakdown of ecosystem resilience are to be changed. We help people, especially those whose access to and capacity to use resources is limited, to find livelihood options that are sustainable.
- Conservation Education: A fundamental barrier to implementing conservation strategies at the local level and developing sustainable livelihood options, is the level of education and understanding of ecological principles. Therefore we also strengthen public knowledge and awareness of the value of conservation, both within local communities and beyond.
We have a strong focus in this work on Indigenous communities, especially the Maasai whose traditional lands frequently have come under pressure from formal conservation initiatives and expanding agriculture and resource development from non-Maasai.
Throughout our work we are cognizant of some important opportunities that we as an organization can take up to enrich the work we undertake and to demonstrate effectiveness in our development activity.
Sharing experience: The Kesho Trust – given our connection between Canada and Tanzania – recognizes the immense value of cross-cultural sharing of information and experience. We actively promote experience sharing in ways that can contribute to this cross fertilization – either through media or personal engagement. We believe that collaboration of this sort can make a significant contribution to local people and their capacity to make a difference in their own communities.
Inclusiveness: The Kesho Trust is aware that reaching those who are marginalized in society means taking specific actions to address barriers and change existing attitudes. People are marginalized through gender, sexuality, age, class, race, caste, ethnicity, religion and ability. International focus has been drawn to issues around gender equality and disability, especially through the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2006 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and we are committed to respect these policies and proactively work to achieve gender equity inclusion of disabled people in development programs. Thus we are making efforts to ensure our work is accessible to everyone. We have a commitment to work in an inclusive way, and are developing the skills and tools necessary to accomplish that through a social/rights based approach.