Current Projects
Walking with Maasai runs a number of community projects – with several others in the planning stage.
Our main projects include: bead work; education; and agriculture.
Each of these projects is enabling this Maasai community to overcome poverty and have hope for the future.
Osiligi Bead Work
“Osiligi” means hope in KiMaasai. This project started with one Maasai widow at the end of 2009. We now work with 11 Maasai women to design and make jewellery that is then sold locally and in the UK. The income the women make from the bead work enables them to provide for their family and increases their sense of self-worth and their status in the Maasai community. If you’re interested in buying some of this beautiful jewellery, contact Claire Sullivan clairesullivan26@fsmail.net.
Watch this video to hear the Maasai women talk about the difference this project makes to their lives:
St Francis of Assisi Academy
The St Francis of Assisi Academy was started by Maasai parents who want to see their children receive a good education. The Academy is situated in the remote community of Olorte in the Loita Hills in southern Kenya.
The Olorte Community has around 7,000 people scattered over a 15 mile radius. This is the remotest Maasai Community in the world.
The Maasai here realise that education is essential for the future of their survival; the developing world is surrounding and creeping up on them. They want to keep their way of life but also want to survive in this time of rapid change.
Poverty levels are high in Olorte. The Maasai here don’t have the necessary skills to run a community. They are hoping to see their children become nurses, teachers and businessmen and women, as well as developing skills in other areas so that they can serve their own community in the future.
Walking with Maasai is working with parents of students at the school to facilitate the development of the St Francis of Assisi Academy. All the children of the Walking with Maasai staff attend the school. We believe that the education of the Maasai children is an answer to alleviating poverty in their community. Teaching is done in a culturally sensitive way with Maasai teachers.
Watch this short film to learn more about this project.
Shamba Project
Shamba means “vegetable garden” in Swahili. This project aims to address the nutritional needs of the community. Maize is the staple diet of the Maasai people but it is not very nutritious.
The Mobile Clinic treats many children in the community who have malnutrition. There are often food shortages between the harvests. Recent droughts have also had an impact on the success of maize harvests.
The Walking with Maasai staff have been experimenting with growing 35 different types of vegetables. They have found that the soil is very fertile and up to three growing seasons are possible.
Walking with Maasai currently trains six partners in the community to grow 19 different types of vegetables. The hope is that, through this project, we will introduce more nutritious vegetables to the community, continue to produce vegetables when there are food shortages and give families an opportunity to sell vegetables and generate an income.
This project will also provide food for the St Francis Academy providing each child with a nutritious meal every day.
