Confident smiles replacing shy uncertainty

A growing number of Maasai communities is organising extra activities on these issues on top of what is done by schools. Good examples of this self-responsibility are the CBO’s in Orpirikata and Tikoishi in Kajiado and The Nomad Child Foundation operating in Narok. Each of these organisations  organised extra programs to empower their youth this summer.

The children were trained in life and leadership skills, moral values and health awareness. In Tikoishi the focus was on how to improve education while The Nomad Child Foundation spent extra time and money on sanitary towels and hygiene skills. In Orpirikata peer support groups were initiated.

In total more than 700 young people participated. Though impact is always very difficult to measure hopeful signs were reported. The Nomad Child Foundation noticed an immediate drop in absences among school girls. And more in general they concluded that ‘confident smiles are replacing shy uncertainty’ among the children who participated.

The activities were financed by the Wierda-Baas Foundation and supported by Friends of the Maasai. Both organisations are strongly motivated to continue their commitment in the coming years.