Walking With the Maasai
Why the Maasai
The Maasai people are known for being some of the most traditional people of Kenya. They are treasured because of their abilities to guide others to experience the magic of Kenya.
The Maasai are brave semi-nomadic people who live among wild animals and have learned how to protect their communities and live in balance with nature.
They have maintained their cultural values for thousands of years and hold the secrets of living in balance with each other and with the natural world.
However, now, just as we need their wisdom, their way of life is facing challenges that may lead to cultural extinction.
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The Challenges They Face
Climate Change
These people live without any resources to rely on during extreme weather conditions. During droughts their cattle die and many of their people are in danger of dying.
Dividing the Land
Recently, the land has been privatized, which will break down the Maasai way of living as community. Parcels of land are being fenced and are sold so that the people can feed their families.
Money
For the first time in their history the Maasai are also finding themselves needing money for healthcare and education of their children. When they sell their land, they are in danger of losing their dignity and their way of life. This is much like what has happened to the indigenous peoples of the United States and Canada.
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Our Story
The Founder and CEO of The Maasai Cultural Conservation Foundation, Barbara Hoskins, has had the opportunity to get to know the Maasai people over the past 16 years during her time volunteering in Kenya. She has gone on long walks with Maasai warriors and has spent time in their communities. She has been impressed by their values and has developed a commitment to bring what she has learned back to you. She has also used her own resources to support the Maasai people so that they can meet their current challenges and conserve their culture.
Dr. Hoskins, is an educational consultant with a Ph.D. from Northwestern University. She has a private practice in Pasadena, California where she and her associates have changed the lives of hundreds of children and their families. She has also developed curriculum materials and has presented workshops across the United States, Canada, as well as in Kenya.
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Most recently she has written a book titled, “Life Lessons: Parenting Through the Lens of the Maasai People”
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About Our Work
Jackson Ntirkama is one of the Maasai warriors who works with us to coordinate our projects.
Our Purpose and Guiding Principles
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The Maasai Cultural Conservation Foundation was created to partner with the Maasai people as they face these challenges. These people hold important learning, and if they lose their way of life, we will lose their wisdom, and the values they embody.
The guiding principles of the Maassi Cultural Conservation Foundation are to:
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Develop a deep understanding of the Maasai people and their culture
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Develop respectful relationships with the Maasai people, including: chiefs, elders, women, warriors and children, so that we can work together to engage in projects that are valuable to them and are culturally appropriate
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Empower the Maasai people to achieve their own goals and to sustain their way of life
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Discoveries
What We Have Discovered
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These people live with a great deal of integrity and courage.
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They live in a way that holds valuable life lessons for us.
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They are willing and able to work hard to make good use of the resources that we offer.
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A small amount of money goes a long way for these people who live very simply.
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As a result of our work with them, they have taken the initiative to empower other people in their communities.
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It has been an honor to be able to step outside of our busy lives and touch the lives of people who live very differently.
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See "Current Update"
Our Results
Since our inception in 2021, our small but mighty team has:
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Empowered over 1,800 women to start their own businesses for $50 each so that they can feed their families. After five months each woman has been able to pay the money forward to support another woman to start her business. ​
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Provided school fees and mentoring for children who have been orphaned.
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​Opened a small medical clinic to provide much needed health care for people in a remote area. More than 78 babies have been born there in the last 2 years. We have also supplied the clinic with a small pharmacy and a basic lab to make it possible to diagnose and treat diseases.
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​Paid the salaries for two nurse practitioners and an herbal healer.
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​Installed three solar-powered wells so that remote communities have access to clean water for the first time.
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Trained two Maasai communities to plant, harvest, and store hay so that their livestock can survive during droughts.
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​Published a book where we share how the Maasai people raise their children to be brave, respectful, responsible, hardworking, competent, generous adults.
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Held five workshops to raise awareness for the Maasai people about the implications of selling their lands and losing their culture.
Updates from Kenya
Upon returning from Kenya we found that we had received much more than we had given. There were six of us, including Allan McDonald, one of our board members, and four members of the Martinson family, who had supported us in installing a well in Maji Moto, Wilson’s community.
We were greeted at the airport by James, a six foot six Maasai warrior in full Maasai attire. Many of the other tourists around us wanted to have their pictures taken with him! They come to see the wildlife, but often do not get time to be with authentic Maasai warriors. Read More
I am back from Kenya. Upon returning to South Pasadena I found that my home was safe from the fires, but my heart is heavy for all of those who lost their homes. Amy, our assistant, who sends all of our communications to you and keeps careful track of each of your donations, lost her home. She had to leave in the middle of the night with her children in their pajamas and her cell phone. Everything else burned to the ground. She has been in temporary housing for the past month but was recently able to find a new home for her family. We celebrate that and are finding ways to support her. Read More
This visit to Kenya was filled with even more joy, gratitude, and a
wonderful sense of community. In both Jackson’s and Wilson’s
communities, I was greeted by hundreds of women and children,
dancing and singing to express their appreciation for what we have
done for their lives. They are proud to own their own businesses and
confidently manage them so that they can take care of their families.
I spoke with them about their important role in conserving their
culture and they were able to see how important their voices are,
and how strong a force for good they can be. Read More
My recent trip to Kenya was filled with joy and gratitude for the work that has been done there as a result of your donations. Allan McDonald, one of our board members, accompanied me. Read More
I have just returned from Kenya with my heart full of gratitude. I visited our projects in Naekarra (Jackson’s community) and in Maji Moto (Wilson’s community). I want you to know that your donations have been making an incredible difference in the lives of the people there. They met me with celebratory songs and dances, as well as speeches to express their gratitude. Read More
Next Steps
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In the upcoming year we plan to:
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Install wells in other areas where people do not have access to clean water. This will prevent waterborne illnesses and death in times of drought, and make a sustainable impact for thousands of people.
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Continue to offer opportunities for women and men to start their own small businesses, with donations of $50 each. Some men have joined in this project, starting agrobusinesses whereby they bring medicines for livestock to other remote areas.
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Expand the services of the health clinic to include additional medial care, expand the maternity facility and laboratory, and provide a means of transportation when the medical staff has to go to someone's home.
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Continue to raise awareness regarding land issues and conserving the core values of the Maasai culture.
I hope that you are able to be a part of this journey. As you may know, these projects are being supported by friends who want to have a direct impact in the lives of others. Trust that I will continue to work closely with Jackson and Wilson to ensure that our work is grounded in the key needs of the communities and that our resources are well-managed. It has been an honor for me to work with these people, and to bring you into their world to make this possible.
If you would like to contribute to any of these projects,
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Click here to Participate
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Donate to Make a Difference
100% of your donation will go directly to the Maasai people
What We Are Doing
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Protecting land rights
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Providing access to clean water
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Empowering women's businesses
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Creating a community clinic
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Developing drought responses
Checks written to the Maasai Cultural Conservation Foundation can be sent to:
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Barbara Hoskins
556 S. Fair Oaks Avenue, Suite 101-498
Pasadena, CA 91105
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Please include your email and mailing address so that we can thank you and keep you in the loop about our progress!
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, FEIN 872 889 065. The foundation will absorb all of the administrative expenses.