Inspired by ancestry · Designed in Africa

Ancestral patterns,
glowing again today.

Founder & Curator

Riptoya Kanano Elema

Born in Sagana, Kirinyaga County, raised in Marsabit and Nairobi, the eldest of eight children. She studied international relations and diplomacy, driven by a wish to travel and help people.

She is CEO of Move Northern Kenya, leading the "Regreen Northern Kenya" reforestation and seedball dispersal, and founded a heritage-tech craft brand that has taken traditional craftsmanship to international stages such as China's Maritime Silk Road International Cultural Tourism Festival. She is also a UNESCO-funded scholar in AI and Transition at Oxford.

An elder once asked her: "People are dying of hunger — why are you planting trees?" That question turned her work toward agroecology.

▶Watch: CEO of Move Northern Kenya — Use your skills to benefit societyATIAM interview with Riptoya Elema. More clips coming soon. · Watch on YouTube

Turkana
Echoes

Lake Turkana is the world's largest desert lake, listed by UNESCO as World Heritage "In Danger" since 2018. The identity of the Turkana, El Molo, Gabbra, Rendille and Dassanach communities is bound to its waters.

Heritage at risk

Climate change and upstream dams are reshaping the lake and the lives around it.

Desert Glow

Digital storytelling that records the light, sound and people of the desert.

Oral history & beadwork archive

Recording oral histories and decoding the symbolism of every bead colour.

Elders' knowledge circles

Gathered around the fire, passing elders' wisdom to the next generation.

Events & Exhibitions

2026 Season

NOV 07–14, 2026

Lake Turkana · UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers

Sibiloi / South Island / Central Island National Parks · International KES 77,400 · Local KES 15,000

UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers Initiative 2026

Lake Turkana World Heritage Volunteers Programme

Theme: Pioneering Digital Heritage Stewardship & Ecological Restoration

Organising entity: Nomasil Threads
World Heritage Site: Lake Turkana National Parks, Kenya — In Danger since 2018 (Decision 47 COM 7A.13)
Project location: Sibiloi, South Island & Central Island National Parks, Marsabit & Turkana Counties
Project dates: 7–14 November 2026 (5 days of activities, travel on 8 & 14 Nov)
Track record: Previous WHV camps 2023–2025 under KVSO Kenya
Participation fee: International volunteers KES 77,400 · Local volunteers KES 15,000
Registration deadline: 5 October 2026, 23:59 EAT · No experience required

Background

Lake Turkana holds Outstanding Universal Value as the world's largest permanent desert lake, home to over 100 archaeological and palaeontological sites and the largest known Nile crocodile population in Africa. Koobi Fora's fossil record spans nearly 4–7 million years of human evolution.

Since 2018 it has been on the List of World Heritage in Danger: transboundary damming on the Omo River has cut inflow by about 90%, driving water loss, rising salinity and desertification across Sibiloi's wildlife corridors.

Nomasil Threads was founded by Riptoya Elema after four years of field engagement with KVSO Kenya across Maasai Mara, Kakamega, Lamu Old Town, Thimlich Ohinga and Mount Rwenzori. The 2026 Action Camp is its most ambitious field intervention, responding to the site's Desired State of Conservation for Removal (DSOCR).

Objectives

01Document and digitise 25+ beadwork patterns and oral histories via the Nomasil AI Storytelling Platform for the Pan-African Museum.
02Pair community elders with volunteers for intergenerational knowledge and technology transfer through ethical AI co-design.
03Raise global awareness of ecological threats through the 'Desert Glow' collection and a digital advocacy campaign.
04Restore degraded wildlife corridors in Sibiloi by planting 500+ indigenous trees with the Kenya Forest Service.

Planned activities

Desert Glow Storytelling Lab (AI)

Volunteers and local youth co-input oral histories and beadwork symbolism into the Nomasil AI platform, generating QR-coded jewellery designs.

Outcome: 25+ narratives archived; volunteers trained in ethical AI co-design.

Elders' Wisdom Knowledge Circles

Intercultural dialogue between elders and volunteers on myths, songs and landscape significance.

Outcome: Validated archive of oral testimonies.

Biocultural Reforestation Drive

Community-led planting of indigenous species (Acacia, Salvadora persica) in degraded Sibiloi corridors, guided by Kenya Forest Service.

Outcome: 500+ trees planted; survival monitoring established.

Tech Community Workshop

Local women artisans and volunteers co-design jewellery integrating traditional beadwork with digital production.

Outcome: Artisans trained; new product line with market linkage.

Heritage Stewardship Workshop

Establishment of 5 community-led Heritage Action Groups with elected Heritage Guardians.

Outcome: 5 groups established; local ownership secured.

Cradle of Mankind Youth Forum

A Baraza-style public forum ratifying a Youth Heritage Stewardship Declaration with community leaders and site managers.

Outcome: Formal roadmap for post-camp monitoring.

Impact & sustainability

500+

indigenous saplings planted, monitored with KFS

25+

cultural narratives archived, validated by NMK experts

100+

digital impressions linking Desert Glow to the In Danger status

community Heritage Action Groups continuing after the camp

The digital archive stays accessible to the Pan-African Museum and NMK, a Youth Heritage Stewardship Declaration sets the post-camp roadmap, and the co-designed jewellery collection generates ongoing income for artisans.

Alignment with UNESCO frameworks

Grounded in the 1972 World Heritage Convention, the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the 2005 Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, UNESCO Priority Africa and Priority Gender Equality, and Decision 47 COM 7A.13. Accepted by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (Ref: CLT/WHC/PSM/26/13).

Partners

UNESCO
Nomasil Threads
KVSO Kenya
UHAI Africa
Kenya Forest Service
NMK
Move Northern Kenya

Call for partnership & support

We welcome strategic partnerships, financial support, technical expertise, equipment donations, research collaboration and advocacy — especially in GIS mapping, environmental monitoring, indigenous knowledge preservation, climate adaptation and sustainable livelihoods.

Become a partner →

The Collection

Every piece is handmade by community artisans, credited to its makers.

Prices shown in KES

Daily Journal

—

Subscribe & Contact

Subscribe to the Nomasil newsletter and get every post in your inbox.

nomasilthreads@gmail.com · kananoriptoya@gmail.com

+254 768 117 441 · +254 792 763045 · +254 118 387063

P.O. Box 948-00511, Nairobi, Kenya · @nomasil_threads

M-Pesa Paybill 303030 · Account 2054439035