Dear Friends,
With the support MCEP SIMOO implemented various projects aimed at alleviating poverty among the Maasai nomadic people in
Enrolling more children in school and supporting them with school fees and other very necessary supplies. 80 elementary school kids are being sponsored. This year’s enrollment was 34 children. We also enrolled two high school kids and sponsor two college students at
MCEP sponsorship helped Susan Naserian to attend the Permanent United Nation's Forum on Indigenous Affairs in May and June 2007. It is very important to note that this year the UN General Assembly voted unanimously to adopt the declaration on indigenous people's human rights which include a right to live, a right to access education, water and other basic human rights. Also, Daniel Rogei attended the UN Forum on Climate Change held at the UN headquarters in NYC in September 2007. Daniel was able to make a contribution on the impact of climate on indigenous peoples basing them on livelihood, culture, mitigation drought and famine.
This year, a village situated in west of the Rift Valley was affected by a fire tragedy. We are happy to announce that MCEP sent some funds which we used to buy household supplies such as plates, water fetching containers, spoons, cups and milking jugs. This was a very good project that positively affected the lives of the victims. They did not have items to use for milking and serving food.
SIMOO is also very much trying to empower women economically. In Maasai traditions, women have no property. They depend on men for food clothing and other needs. With the help of MCEP, we were able to market the Maasai art skill of bead work. Currently the women are exporting HairZings to a company in
Your Maasai Friend,
Francis ole Sakuda
Executive Director
Dear Friends,
We are very fine and our work is going on smoothly. We have received some rains but we hope to get more. Regarding our projects the following has been accomplished.
1. The St Peters well is doing very well. We have a water cistern and pipeline at the well. Many families are now getting very clean and a reliable water source provided by this well. We can’t forget thanking the Anonymous Donor for this gift of water. Water is life and life can be very very challenging without water.
2. The Rotary water well is also doing very well. This water source is situated at a more remote community of Maasai land in our region. It is supplying water to many herds of livestock as well as for domestic uses. This community has also started to plant tree seedlings so that the well environment can provide shade for the water cistern and the people who will be fetching water at the well, saving them from the scorching sun.
3. Development of water ponds. SIMOO has made 13 water ponds in different communities last year and early this year in an effort to eradicate poverty and water shortage. This water is collected from rainwater runoff and used for livestock watering. Many Maasai cows die due to long treks in search of water. This will help reduce a lot of walking by cattle.
4. Fences. SIMOO has also provided 50 wire fences to 50 families. One acre is fenced in each homestead and help train the Maasai to harvest hay. A lot of hay has been collected which will save many families that have few cattle from buying hay. It will also help many cows from dying of starvation in the dry season.
5. Education. We have received more funds for the education projects. All these children have been able to attend schooling without any stumbling block. Previously, most of these children could not attend school due to lack of shoes, uniform or school fees. SIMOO is able to cater for all their needs and they are now enjoying learning like any other kids from able families. Their lives are no longer the same.
We hope to achieve more this year with the help of our partners and friends. We can all change the world for the better. The Maasai have received only a helping hand from MCEP.
Francis ole Sakuda
Executive Director - SIMOO