Nkina Tinti and MANDO Founder Michael Sayo at Enkoireroi Primary school
Enkoireroi primary school is a collection of tin buildings mostly on community land, some with dirt floors and like many Kenyan schools is public run. Mr. Kingori, the head, is struggling to make ends meet and because he doesn’t own the school, cannot invest any money in it nor can he afford to pay experienced teachers. Teachers posted by the government at the school are few compared to the number to classes. Mr. Kingori have to work with the management committee to have parents meets cost to employ new teachers for the school.
To add to his problems, the recent droughts mean there is no money to pay for school fees so pupils are leaving. The fees are very low by western standards – normally just within the budget of a poor person. Over the past 3 years approximately to 15 girls drop at the Eremit and Enkoireroi schools due to early pregnancies.
We conclude that investment in this school is not viable, given the lack of land. Without investment though, the school’s future is hanging by a thread and if Kingori loses any more pupils she will have to close.
Teachers here say children will always want to go to school if only for the sugary, milky tea or porridge at morning break, usually their first food of the day. That may well be true but their enthusiasm for learning and to do well at school is unquestionable. Many of the older children ask me to say hello to their sponsors and to say they are grateful for the opportunity they have been given.
Embarbal Nalepo, 8 miles Enkoireroi School
The village elders call a meeting on Sayo’s land. About 60 people turn up. They give speeches about how important education is to the Maasai now and how, if the boarding school is built, they will do whatever they can to support it. The community is enthusiastic.
Most of the people here today live in manyattas – a collection of basic, traditional, windowless huts made of wood and cow dung. There is little inside each hut other than hide covered, raised, separate sleeping areas for men and women, a fire with no chimney and a couple of cooking pots. At the centre of the manyatta is a pen for goats made of thorn bushes to protect them from wild animals. The manyatta is surrounded by the same bushes.
MANDO decided to initiate discussion with CICAN with a view to build a new boarding school ready for the school year beginning January 2017. Pokidala and Mpatenga generously donate 2.5 acres each of their own land – the minimum size the government will allow for a school. It’s currently rocky and full of vicious thorn bushes but in a beautiful spot.
It was our plan to look for sponsors for needy children on completion of the new school but if we wait, many will leave school early due to poverty. We will try to find sponsors now.
Microfinance
During our recent visit to the community, we are invited to a meeting of the Olomayiana Women Co-operative, a group set up by MANDO and CICAN and with 15 members. We are impressed by its organisation and determination. In December 2013, 10 women were loaned 6,000 Kenyan shillings (just under $80) and 5 women loaned 10000 Kenya shillings for the women. The group loans money, with interest, to its members for projects such as growing and selling vegetables and paying school fees. The money is always paid back, on time. Mary the group’s representative is proud of her group and says “give a Maasai man 500 shillings in his pocket and he has no money. Give a Maasai woman 500 shillings and she will make every penny count”.
Michael looks a little out of place but is welcomed none the less and we are given a delicious meal of stew and chapati. Maasai men would not cross the threshold, apparently. MANDO are impressed and resolve to recommend a small interest free loan add to the group.
Being Maasai
What particular difficulties the Maasai face, an visitor may ask hile at the community; . Education, water and health are top of his list:
There is poor or no access to hospital. It can take a day to get to hospital in an emergency such as childbirth. Malaria is a problem and nets were handed out by an American charity but no one knew what they were for or how to use them. Many people have unspecified eye problems. They would like to learn about sustainable agriculture. In spite of leading such tough lives, the Maasai are a very happy people.
We ask Suyianka Lemurua an old elder in the community to tell us what he thinks is good about being Maasai. “That is a difficult question. A very difficult question.” We won’t let him off the hook. He thinks for a few minutes. “Maasai are happy, satisfied with their life, whatever comes, no matter if it is difficult. They are patient, disciplined, kind, and honest. No greed or jealousy. They are positive”
What’s next for MANDO Charity Projects?
I will be writing to the sponsor to give them some information and photos of the sponsor children end of the term results and performance of the girls. We will be working, full steam ahead, to raise money for the new sponsorships next team of needy girls and new boarding school.
The pants run……..
Many Maasai children cannot afford underwear. We intend to distributed 250 pairs of pants to the children before the end of the year. So they have no excuse. We invite volunteers to run donations drive towards this noble cause.
Water – clean or dirty, is a constant struggle in the area. During the rains, there is always somewhere to find water, whether it is collected from your roof or a small stream, but during the 8 months per year without rain, it may mean a 10-20 mile round trip to a dirty pool. Five years ago we installed roof water catchment into the above school, and this is still supplying about 300 school children daily with clean water. Soon, we will start drilling a bore-hole at the nearby market; thanks to new US partner Green Empowerment coming on board. The drill will give free water to the community, the school and eventually a health clinic. About 2000 people will gain from this new source of clean, local water. See the next newsletter for the progress.
Thank you
As always, many thanks to our wonderful sponsors, supporter and donors, as without your help, these improvements would not happen. 100% of any money we receive is spent on the projects in Kenya.
Michael Sayo, Founder & Director, March, 2014
