Turkana Elders & Scientists Co-Design Desert Resilience Running Curriculum

In a landmark fusion of indigenous knowledge and sports science, Turkana elders and researchers from JKUAT co-developed the Desert Resilience Running (DRR) Curriculum, launched in 12 pastoralist schools on February 5, 2025. The program teaches youth to run using *Ng’iturak* (star navigation), *Ewale* (dust-wind reading), and pulse-based pacing—methods refined over centuries. GPS fails in the desert. Our ancestors’ knowledge does not, said elder Lemaron Lengurisi. Students learn hydration from *Ng’ikor* (baobab fruit), recovery via *Ng’ipil* (clay cooling), and injury prevention through *Echorot* (joint mobilization songs). Early data shows 73% improvement in heat tolerance and 42% drop in school absenteeism during droughts. UNESCO has nominated DRR for the *International Fund for Cultural Diversity*. The County Assembly passed a motion to integrate it into all ASAL school PE syllabi by 2026.