Board member Etienne Spierts in conversation about mentorship program in rainy Kenya

He took advantage of this opportunity to have meetings with some of the partners of Friends of the Maasai as well. Etienne and his wife Romanie visited 8 schools, a women craft centre, an organic farm and met local leaders in Nairobi, Narok and Kajiado.

There was a lot of rain in March after a long period of drought which was welcomed by the Maasai very much. Unfortunately in some places the rains caused floods. In other areas there were big problems for agriculture and traffic. The community garden in Orpirikata, one of the partner communities of Friends of the Maasai, was destroyed. 

One of the topics Etienne discussed with our local partners was the development of the mentorship program which is supported by Friends of the Maasai for a period of three years. This program provides guidance and support for nomadic girls and boys covering education, health, rights and leadership. The program addresses and counteracts detrimental cultural norms and practices that adversily affect the education and well being of nomadic girls, including early marriage, teenage pregnancy, female genital mutilation and gender-based discrimination.

The first results of this program show promising improvements in school attendance and performance and self-esteem among the nearly 1,000 Maasai girls that participated so far.