Mando Maasai – for the empowerment of Maasai communities
by Denise
Nanni and Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. In the following our interview with Eliza
of the organization Mando
Maasai, founded by Michael Ole Sayo to empower Maasai communities.
How was MANDO founded?
MANDO began in 2007 when Michael
Ole Sayo, a young man from the Maasai communities MANDO serves, worked with
village elders and families to organise to help solve problems these people
were facing. In essence, Michael was “giving back” to those who sold goats and
cows so he could get an education. The basic goal is to empower the Maasai
people through education, health and economic development and to integrate the
Maasai way of life with the modern world, while conserving and celebrating
Maasai cultural heritage. They envision literate communities that are not so
poverty prone. MANDO’s Board of Trustees decides strategic direction, delivers
on objectives and ensures the organization is solvent, well-run and upholds its
values.
Ole Sayo, a young man from the Maasai communities MANDO serves, worked with
village elders and families to organise to help solve problems these people
were facing. In essence, Michael was “giving back” to those who sold goats and
cows so he could get an education. The basic goal is to empower the Maasai
people through education, health and economic development and to integrate the
Maasai way of life with the modern world, while conserving and celebrating
Maasai cultural heritage. They envision literate communities that are not so
poverty prone. MANDO’s Board of Trustees decides strategic direction, delivers
on objectives and ensures the organization is solvent, well-run and upholds its
values.
What are the main issues regarding
Maasai community?
Maasai community?
The nomadic, pastoral Maasai people
face such a severe drought that they are forced to become more agriculturally
based. This means reliable water sources must be close to evolving communities.
At the same time, MANDO is helping with this adjustment while overcoming root
causes of poverty, introduce sustainable methods of subsistence, improve education
and gender equality.
face such a severe drought that they are forced to become more agriculturally
based. This means reliable water sources must be close to evolving communities.
At the same time, MANDO is helping with this adjustment while overcoming root
causes of poverty, introduce sustainable methods of subsistence, improve education
and gender equality.
What are the main activities you carry out to promote women’s
empowerment?
-discouraging the practice of female genital mutilation and early
marriage
-providing sponsorships for keeping
girls in school from primary to higher education as well as improving school
facilities and practices
-building and running a safe house for girls threatened by FGM so they can
continue their education
-informing about birth control
-providing micro-loans for women to run entrepreneurial income generating
businesses
training women farmers
girls in school from primary to higher education as well as improving school
facilities and practices
-building and running a safe house for girls threatened by FGM so they can
continue their education
-informing about birth control
-providing micro-loans for women to run entrepreneurial income generating
businesses
training women farmers
How do you promote children
education within Maasai community?
education within Maasai community?
•
sponsoring children living in poverty to attend school, especially
ambitious girls willing to give back to their communities; they are chosen on
bases of need and merit
• providing lunches at schools where
children would otherwise have to go hungry
• constructing schools and classrooms in
villages, repairing existing schools with paint walls, windows, floors, desks
and chalkboards
• providing books and school supplies
• increasing access to learning
opportunities – youth camp, football clubs
• establishing school management
committees, supporting teachers, instructional sessions for parents
sponsoring children living in poverty to attend school, especially
ambitious girls willing to give back to their communities; they are chosen on
bases of need and merit
• providing lunches at schools where
children would otherwise have to go hungry
• constructing schools and classrooms in
villages, repairing existing schools with paint walls, windows, floors, desks
and chalkboards
• providing books and school supplies
• increasing access to learning
opportunities – youth camp, football clubs
• establishing school management
committees, supporting teachers, instructional sessions for parents
Do you cooperate with local authorities and institutions? If yes, how?
We cooperate with all local,
regional and country-wide agencies:
• working with head teachers, school
boards and officials to adhere to requirements and try to obtain improvements
in our schools
• obtaining all permits needed to build,
run and maintain micro-grids for electricity and drill badly needed wells
regional and country-wide agencies:
• working with head teachers, school
boards and officials to adhere to requirements and try to obtain improvements
in our schools
• obtaining all permits needed to build,
run and maintain micro-grids for electricity and drill badly needed wells
