Education
Mentorship
Empowerment
Health and
Well-being
Welcome to Maasai Girls Initiative
Non Governmantal Organization
Mission Statement
Empowering Maasai girls and women through education, health, economic opportunities, and community-led concervation initiatives to build a thriving, resilient community where gender equality and sustainable development flourish in hermony with nature.
Vision Statement
To empower Women and Girls in pastoral communities to realize their full potential, foster gender equality, and promote sustainable progress through environmental stewardship and conservation
About us
Maasai Girls Initiative, Community Based Organization
The Maasai Girl Initiative Organization is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Maasai girls and women in Narok and Kajiado counties in Kenya through education, mentorship and advocacy. By addressing the unique challenges faced by Maasai girls, we aim to foster positive social change and create opportunities for these young women to reach their full potential. Our organization operates within the Maasai community, recognizing the cultural context and specific needs of our target population.
Background:
Our programs focus on; education, mentorship, advocacy and empowerment. Our goal is to overcome the cultural barriers and traditional practices that hinder the progress and potential of Maasai girls, and provide them with the necessary support to thrive. The Maasai community, known for their strong cultural traditions, often restricts the opportunities available to girls. Early marriage, female genital mutilation, and limited access to education are just a few examples of the challenges faced by Maasai girls. These practices not only jeopardize their physical and mental well-being but also hinder their chances of becoming self-sufficient individuals.
Goals and Objectives
Education
MGI envisions a future where all girls can access and complete their education. Our goal is to achieve 100% transition of girls through all levels of education—from primary school to university and technical/vocational training (TVETs)—culminating in successful graduations.
Mentorship
Mentorship is a vital component of our organization's approach. We understand that girls from marginalized communities often lack role models and support systems. Therefore, we pair Maasai girls with dedicated mentors who guide and inspire them to overcome challenges and pursue their goals. Through regular interactions, our mentors provide academic guidance, life skills training, and emotional support, helping these girls navigate the complexities of adolescence and adulthood.
Empowerment
We are committed to empowering Maasai girls by promoting gender equality and challenging harmful cultural practices. We strive to raise awareness among Maasai families and the community at large about the importance of girls' education and the elimination of harmful traditional practices.
Health and Well-being
We promote the health and dignity of girls through targeted health programs.
- Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM): Training girls and providing sanitary towels.
- De-stigmatization Campaigns: Raising awareness to combat period stigma and promote open dialogue.
- Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM): Training girls and providing sanitary towels.
- Engagement of women on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights
Advocacy
MGI actively advocates for the rights and empowerment of girls and women in pastoralist communities.
- Women's rights
- Ending Female Genital Mutilation
- Ending Early marriages
- Prevent teen pregnancies
- Girl's education
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Climate change
We champion climate-smart and sustainable practices that empower communities while protecting the environment.
- Clean Energy Promotion: Transitioning from charcoal burning to eco-friendly alternatives like biogas and briquettes.
- Smart Agriculture: Training in beekeeping, goat and poultry keeping, kitchen gardening, and fodder/feeds formulation.
- Agroforestry: Tree planting, tree nurseries, and growing fruit trees.
- Mushroom Farming: Introducing innovative farming techniques to diversify income.
Livelihood Skills
To equip girls in pastoralist communities with essential vocational and livelihood skills. This includes:
Vocational Skills Training
- Beauty and hairdressing
- Tailoring and fashion design
- Beadwork and art/crafts
Digital Literacy
- Basic computer skills to bridge the digital divide.
Agricultural Skills
- Poultry and beekeeping
- Kitchen gardening
- Feed formulation for livestock
- Goat keeping
Specific Objectives
Make an impact.
Peninah Sayo
Founder
Volunteer
Our Initiatives
Educating & Empowering Maasai Girls and Women
Maasai Girl Initiative is an organization in the indigenous and minority/ under-served population - the Maasai. It started to advocate for education and the rights of girls and women since this categories are less valued in the community. Women undergo retrogressive cultures like FGM - and this has an effect of many girls dropping out of school to be married due to teenage pregnancy, Parents does not value girls education thus they give out girls for marriage in exchange for some cows, blankets and wine.
Training on Menstrual Hygiene Management
Maasai Girl Initiative have been volunteering to go to schools to train girls and the community on Menstrual Hygiene Management, whereby we train girls and community that periods is a normal process and try to eliminate stigma surrounding Periods and its management.
Economic Empowerment
Due to high poverty level that makes women voiceless even when men decide to give out their young girls below 14 years for marriage, Maasai Girl Initiative volunteered to group women and train them on economic empowerment, we started with the beads work because there is available labour but the women lacks capital to buy the beads from town which are very expensive. We believe when this women are given some support they will be able to rise over the poverty and will be able to defend their girls and children by supporting their education through payment of school fees, sanitary towel and other neccessities for their families.
Climate Justice and Nutrition
We have also trained women to have kitchen gardens and keep some poultry for family food and nutrition, some have started and we are committed to continue with the training to reduce climate injustices since maasai suffer most the effects of climate change I.e Famine and drought which have left the community without their livelihood since almost all livestock died because of the drought.
