Women in traditional dress at a Culture Club celebration

What We Do

Culture, Livelihood, Rights

Our work is organized around three pillars, each guided by our core values and strategic objectives: sustaining culture as a living heritage, building resilient livelihoods rooted in indigenous knowledge, and promoting rights and inclusion for pastoralist and minority communities.

Culture and Nature Club members learning together in Gotu, Isiolo County.
Culture and Nature Club members learning together in Gotu, Isiolo County.
01

Culture

Culture is at the heart of community identity, resilience, and continuity. Kivulini Trust works to sustain indigenous culture, language, traditional knowledge, and cultural values by strengthening the connections between elders, youth, cultural landscapes, and community life. We believe culture is a living heritage that is practiced, shared, and renewed across generations. Our approach combines cultural documentation, intergenerational learning, and experiential education to create meaningful opportunities for children and youth to learn from elders and engage with their cultural heritage.

Focus Areas

  • Cultural Documentation and Heritage Preservation
  • Indigenous Language and Intergenerational Learning
  • Culture Schools and Community Learning Spaces
  • Youth Cultural Immersion and Leadership
  • Cultural Festivals and Community Engagement
  • Digital Storytelling and Indigenous Knowledge

Our Initiatives

Buuraaq Cultural SchoolWaso MuseumCulture and Nature ClubsKalacha Cultural FestivalIndigenous StorybooksOral History DocumentationDigital Cultural Storytelling
02

Livelihood

Resilient livelihoods are built on strong relationships between people, their environment, and the indigenous knowledge that has sustained communities for generations. Kivulini Trust works to strengthen indigenous livelihood systems by supporting pastoralism, promoting sustainable stewardship of natural resources, and enhancing the capacity of communities to adapt to social, economic, and climate-related changes. Our approach builds on the strengths of pastoralist communities by combining indigenous knowledge with innovation to strengthen livelihood resilience.

Focus Areas

  • Pastoralism and Indigenous Livelihood Systems
  • Natural Resource Stewardship
  • Climate Adaptation and Livelihood Resilience
  • Women and Community Enterprise
  • Youth Livelihood Skills and Innovation
  • Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Development

Our Initiatives

Pastoral Livelihood DevelopmentCommunity Land StewardshipClimate Adaptation InitiativesWomen's Economic EmpowermentYouth Livelihood SkillsIndigenous Knowledge for Resilient Livelihoods
Camels remain central to pastoral livelihood systems across Northern Kenya's rangelands.
Camels remain central to pastoral livelihood systems across Northern Kenya's rangelands.
The Yaa council of elders gathers to deliberate on community land and governance matters.
The Yaa council of elders gathers to deliberate on community land and governance matters.
03

Rights

Strong communities are built on dignity, inclusion, and the ability to protect their heritage, livelihoods, and way of life. Kivulini Trust works with Indigenous and minority communities to strengthen awareness of community, cultural, and land rights while promoting inclusive participation and local leadership. Our approach combines community dialogue, civic education, and partnerships to strengthen local voices and support communities in protecting the places, knowledge, and traditions that define them.

Focus Areas

  • Cultural Rights and Heritage
  • Community Land Governance
  • Access to Cultural Landscapes and Sacred Sites
  • Pastoral Mobility and Migration Routes
  • Women and Girls' Rights
  • Community Participation and Inclusive Leadership

Our Initiatives

Community Land RegistrationCultural Rights AwarenessCommunity Land GovernanceProtection of Sacred SitesCivic Education and Public ParticipationWomen and Girls' Empowerment

Want to support one of these pillars?

Whether through funding, technical partnership, or volunteering your time, there is a place for you in this work.