The Human Resilience Project Arrives in Nairobi to Begin Groundbreaking Research on Global Resilience

May 31, 2025 - PRLog -- The Human Resilience Project, led by renowned field researcher and explorer Dr. Constance Scharff, has arrived in Nairobi to begin the first phase of its bold, three-year global expedition. With the distinction of carrying both the prestigious Explorers Club flag (#12) and a Rolex watch, the team is now on the ground in Kenya, embarking on an unprecedented journey to uncover how humanity adapts, survives, and thrives amid climate disruption, conflict, and trauma.

This marks the formal start of The Human Resilience Project's global mission—an ambitious investigation into the psychological and cultural roots of resilience in some of the world's most remote and climate-challenged communities. Kenya is the first stop on this multi-continent expedition, which will span the globe in search of shared human strategies for endurance, adaptation, and hope.

Dr. Scharff and her all-woman team will begin their work in northern Kenya's Chalbi Desert, where they will collaborate with Dr. Paul Robinson's long-established team. For over four decades, Dr. Robinson and his colleagues have studied the Gabra, a nomadic people whose deep expertise in surviving harsh drought conditions provides invaluable insight into sustainable living under environmental stress.

"We are honored to begin this journey in Kenya, a country whose people have lived at the intersection of tradition and change with tremendous strength," said Dr. Scharff. "What we learn here will help us build a global narrative of resilience that crosses borders, cultures, and generations."

Throughout their time in Kenya, the team will work closely with community elders and leaders, traditional healers, and local organizations to uncover the emotional and cultural frameworks that help individuals and societies survive—and even thrive—in the face of environmental instability and historical trauma.

Following their work in Kenya, the expedition will continue on to engage with communities including the Inuit in Greenland, the Sami of Scandinavia, the Māori of Aotearoa (New Zealand), Amazonian tribes, and others across Bhutan, Hawaii, Israel, Chile, and Indonesia.

The Human Resilience Project is not only a scientific investigation but also a humanitarian initiative, aiming to translate its findings into tools and resources that bolster global mental health and resilience as the world faces increasing climate challenges.

This historic expedition is affiliated with the California Institute for Human Science and has been supported by St. Lawrence University, particularly its Kenya program, in which Dr. Scharff studied in 1992.

For ongoing updates, field dispatches, and ways to support the mission, please visit www.thrproject.com.