Lake Turkana: Where Change Takes Root

Yesterday began with one of those small, unexpected moments that stay with you.

When I asked Julius if he had slept well, he replied,

“Yes, very well… I only woke up when I wasn’t dreaming.”

A perfect start to the day.

Our morning began with a conversation about the Mary’s Meals programme here in Turkana. It was both inspiring and eye-opening. The organisation provides daily meals to children in one of Kenya’s most food-insecure regions, helping them attend school and focus on learning. www.marysmeals.org/what-we-do/where-we-work

I had come across this programme many times before in Germany, where many people support it. But hearing from someone working on the ground gave it a completely different depth. The logistics alone are immense, reaching remote schools, ensuring the food is delivered and used as intended, and keeping such a system running in a challenging environment.

It was a powerful reminder: even the simplest ideas need many hands, much commitment, and constant care to truly work.

After that, we set off towards Lake Turkana.

On the way, Julius couldn’t believe his eyes: camels, everywhere.

Not exactly what comes to mind when thinking of Kenya. Instead of safari animals, the past days had been filled with goats, camels, and pigs. A quiet reminder of how diverse this country truly is.

At the lake, we visited the Learning Lions campus in Loropio. www.learninglions.org

What has been created here in just over a decade is remarkable. What started small has grown into a vibrant campus by the lake, with learning spaces, accommodation, a nursery, a primary school, a girls’ secondary school, a greenhouse, a dispensary, and even a fish factory. A church is currently being built.

Isaya guided us through it all.

In the main learning building, students move through different levels until they reach the Digital Lions stage, where they begin earning their own income through digital work. Some now work remotely, others stay on campus.

From the rooftop, the view stretched all the way to the lake. It was impressive not only in size, but in vision.

One part that stayed with us was the girls’ secondary school.

Assunta asked why it was only for girls, and the answer was simple, yet profound: in this region, many girls are married off at a very young age, often because families cannot afford to support them any longer.

This school changes that.

It is fully sponsored and operates as a boarding school, giving girls the opportunity to continue their education and shape their own futures. Alongside this, a one-year digital training programme empowers them with new skills, opening doors far beyond what might otherwise be possible. It’s not just education. It’s transformation.

We continued past the greenhouse, the dispensary, and the fish factory before reaching the lake itself.

Lake Turkana is vast, quiet, and strikingly beautiful. Palm trees stood half-submerged in the water, almost surreal. After shrinking for years, the lake has been rising again, slowly reclaiming land.

Nearby, Isaya pointed out that the film “Nawi, Dear Future Me” was filmed in this area. www.nawi.film

The film tells the story we had just spoken about, the reality of child marriage, and the futures it takes away.

The heat was intense, well over 34 degrees, and Assunta wondered how anyone could be productive in such conditions. Later, she said:

“Today was such a diverse day, and in this heat. I think it’s really amazing what has been built here. This is how you can truly help people.”

She captured it perfectly.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/22ef53_c10793bac7584e46a0ca24ae562a8666/480p/mp4/file.mp4

That night, the children were especially excited about the beds that can be rolled outside, sleeping under the open sky. With the wind, it felt surprisingly cool, and by early morning we were even reaching for blankets.

Waking up like that, outdoors, watching the sunrise, was something special.

We returned to the lake for a swim. I hesitated at first, knowing that Nile crocodiles live in these waters, but we were reassured it was safe in this area. The children didn’t hesitate, they were in the water within minutes.

Soon, three local boys joined them, and just like that, a game began. Julius was fully immersed, building and playing as if they had known each other for years.

Later that afternoon, we left Loropio and returned to Lodwar.

We went to bed tired, full of impressions, and quietly grateful.