The Maa Trust is still largely closed due to Covid-19 but some activities are starting to resume. We are happy to share this news update from the Mara which includes our new website, resumption of Maa Beadwork, information about the trust's WASH coordinator, street business school(SBS), staff housing construction, update on the Greatest Maasai Mara photography and our July programmes report. More information on all of these topics can be found by clicking on the relevant links. As always, we remain extremely thankful to all of our partners and supporters for making this work possible during these extremely difficult times. |
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We have launched a new website. It has a new and better look, an easier interface, and updated information on all our programs at your fingertips. Our new website gives us a chance to showcase our programmes and to thank you our supporters and partners better by showing you the impact that your donations are having, changing the lives of women, youth, and children in the Maasai Mara. With updated blog posts, great images, and videos, we take you on a journey to witness our work in the Maasai Mara. Click to View the Website |
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Maa Beadwork Members Return to Work |
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Thanks to the support that we have received in response to the fundraising appeal, the 579 members of Maa Beadwork have resumed their work. So far we have raised $17,000 towards our target of $35,000 which would ensure that the ladies have income to support their families for the next 3 months. In the absence of tourism, which is our main market for beadwork, the ladies are currently working on building up a stockpile for Maa Beadwork’s finished products. The stockpile will help Maa Beadwork so that rather than having to make each order when it comes in, orders can be released quickly, and we can make sure that our shop is always fully stocked. |
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This stockpile will increase sales for the social enterprise, assist its sustainability, and increase income for our 579 beaders. We are therefore asking for your support to raise the remaining $18,000 needed to ensure that these ladies can continue to earn income, and support their own families, during this pandemic. We will pay the ladies on a monthly basis so that they have cash-in-hand to buy food, and during these difficult times we will match their earnings with supplementary food donations. Click to Read More Click to Donate |
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Simon (WASH Project Officer) |
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Kipila Simon narrates about his journey as a male Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Officer in the Maasai Mara.“Being born and raised from a pastoral community where gender insensitivity is high, and some issues like sanitation and menstrual hygiene are hardly mentioned in public especially to the opposite gender, I had to be brave, confident, and persuasive.” Kipila Simon, WASH Project Officer. Click to Read more |
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SBS Boosts Profits for Businesses |
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In March 2019, two Maa Trust staff members, Marias and Isen, attended a Street Business School (SBS) workshop in Kampala, Uganda. They were trained in skills to coach small scale entrepreneurs on how to fight poverty through business and then certified as Lead Business Coaches. They are now using the skills gained to train others. Click to Read More |
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Staff Housing Construction |
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In May, a long-awaited project to construct 12 rooms for Maa Trust staff finally started. Staff are currently living in very bad and overcrowded conditions and with the relocation of the trust to the new site, we recognized the need to build better housing for the team. Specific funding was donated for this project, and we are extremely thankful to Franc and Eli Kiefer, and Robin and Stella Podmore for supporting the staff housing construction. Click to Read More |
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Update on Greatest Maasai Mara Photography competition. Our sincere gratitude goes to Andy Campbell, Ben Carrick, Sarah Grimwood, Thorsten Hanewald, Riz Jiwa, and Philippe Henry de Frahan for submitting the above photos in The Greatest Maasai Mara Photo Competition to support The Maa Trust. The Greatest Maasai Mara Photographer of the Year has launched an online auction platform selling beautiful images to raise much-needed funds for boots-on-the-ground conservation organizations in the Mara, including The Maa Trust. For more information about The Greatest Maasai Mara, to enter the competition or buy a print from the auction, click here. |
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Programmes Report July 2020 |
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Due to COVID-19, The Maa Trust closed temporarily, however this has not stopped most of our staff from working from home. The programmes report for July gives a detailed update on all our projects; Maa Beadwork, Scholarship Project, School infrastructure, Women & Economic Empowerment, Maa Honey, Maa Bricks, Integrated Community Healthcare Project (ICHP), WASH, communications, and progress of the construction of the new headquarter. Click to Read the Report. |
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