Jenga Mama: A silent revolution for women and wildlife in Amboseli

Jenga Mama is proving that empowering women is not an add-on to conservation-it is conservation. By investing in women, we are investing in the long-term health of Amboseli's people, wildlife, and ecosystems. These 60 entrepreneurs are now guardians of their environment, and the positive impact of their leadership will echo for generations to come.

Perhaps the most powerful change is in how natural resources are now used and safeguarded. When women gain economic alternatives, the direct pressure on the land decreases. But beyond that, women are gaining voice and influence in local resource-management decisions. For example, women who trained through Jenga Mama are now active governing-committee members of the newly established Illaingarunyoni Conservancy and Ole Narika Conservancy. They are shaping how land is used, how wildlife corridors are maintained, and how community-conservation relationships are built.

At IFAW, we believe in bold ideas that bridge the wellbeing of people and animals. Jenga Mama is one such idea-quietly transforming lives, landscapes, and the future of conservation.