Mara Elephant Project is thrilled to announce the addition of Beatrice Karanja to MEP’s Board of Trustees. Beatrice is a strategic communications specialist with over 20 years of experience as a developmental communications professional covering the African continent with extensive experience in East, Central and Southern Africa.
“I am truly at my best when I am in nature. We can learn so much from the natural world and it is always good to have that lens on as your self-awareness is also heightened.”
She has worked as a journalist with BBC and Reuters and says that her media days were some of my most interesting of her career. There was always a contrast in news coverage and while at times covering war, disease and suffering left her heartbroken there were also stories that renewed her confidence in Africa – children from the slums of Kenya learning ballet, learning about the rich monarchy systems that still exist in Uganda, watching the whirling dervishes of Sudan, the bustling economy of Nigeria and the magnificent beauty of Zanzibar.
Beatrice has worked for several international NGO’s – African Wildlife Foundation, UNICEF, Oxfam (GB). She has also consulted for Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Kofi Annan Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. While working with the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation Beatrice took away a valuable lesson that she applies to many of her pursuits; keep current, keep solutions simple and recognize that the basic needs is what we all want as global citizens; the ability to educate our children, the ability to have access to clean water and the ability to get basic medical care.
Beatrice grew up in Africa with roots in Kenya and Uganda and has a strong and unyielding passion for African development and environmental issues.
“I believe that the conservation and development can co-exist and am keen to play my part to make sure Kenya’s future is sustainable, balanced and wise.”
She joined the MEP Board of Trustees to play a role in shaping the future of Kenya.
“MEP to me is a fine example of partnership, community and the preservation of our natural world. As a Kenyan, I strongly believe that we all have a role in ensuring that our natural heritage and natural capital is preserved for future generations. The Mara ecosystem is a heritage that I am ready to stand up and be counted in ensuring its preservation.”
She is married to a solider and they have a motley crew of pets, who still refuse to get into formation every morning! Her favorite African animal is hands down the warthog.
“It’s all in the tail!! There is a story about warthogs, Treetops Lodge and a Princess becoming a Queen, but I’ll save that for later.”
