Joy’s camp’s community development schemes and eco-preservation projects:

• An Environmental Impact Study was carried out prior to the construction of Joys Camp; before the first stone was laid anywhere in the camp, the delicate environment of Shaba was taken into account.
• Joy’s camp also supports the local communities of nomadic Boran; through employment (more than 70% of its staff come from local villages), and various community projects such as providing accessibility to portable water. This ensures the safety of both the community members and their livestock as they avoid the risk of encroaching on the reserve in search of water, and as a result minimizes negative impact on the reserve and its habitat.
• Any timber used by the camp is from renewable sources, or deadwood, to ensure that the only impact of the camp on the reserve is a positive one.
• Joy’s Camp prides itself on using solar energy for both lighting and heating water in all its rooms. Water management systems have been instilled that ensure there is minimal water wastage at the camp, while responsible mechanisms have been implemented for waste disposal – for example, glass is separated and given to the East African Women’s League, which runs a “Glass for Glasses” project (whereby glass waste is exchanged for eyeglasses for the poor).
• In order to support the future of Shaba National Park, Joy’s Camp maintains close communication with the park rangers and warden, and continues to make as little impact on the environment as possible. Joy’s Camp has also been liaising with AWF (African Wildlife Forum), who are drawing up a management plan for the future of Shaba.