Maasai Girls Maasai Girls Education FundEducation Fund

Educating Girls and Empowering Educating Girls and Empowering WomenWomen

MissionMission

To improve the literacy, health To improve the literacy, health and economic well-being of and economic well-being of

Maasai women in Kenya and Maasai women in Kenya and their families through their families through

education of girls and their education of girls and their communities.communities.

The StatisticsThe Statistics

o 48 out of 100 girls enroll in primary 48 out of 100 girls enroll in primary schoolschool

o 5 of them will make it to secondary 5 of them will make it to secondary schoolschool

o Less than 1 will go to collegeLess than 1 will go to college

Why?Why?

o Poverty and early marriagePoverty and early marriage

o Teen pregnancyTeen pregnancy

o Female genital mutilation (FGM)Female genital mutilation (FGM)

o HIV/AIDSHIV/AIDS

Poverty and Early Poverty and Early MarriageMarriage

o The Maasai are one of the poorest ethnic groups in The Maasai are one of the poorest ethnic groups in Kenya.Kenya.

o Daughters are considered a financial burden and a Daughters are considered a financial burden and a dowry, paid to the bride’s family, offers relief to dowry, paid to the bride’s family, offers relief to Maasai families.Maasai families.

o Fear of pregnancy, which is a disgrace prior to Fear of pregnancy, which is a disgrace prior to marriage and lowers the bride price, perpetuates the marriage and lowers the bride price, perpetuates the practice of early marriage.practice of early marriage.

o Early marriage is the most common reason that Early marriage is the most common reason that Maasai girls drop out of school.Maasai girls drop out of school.

““You can marry a man of any You can marry a man of any age, your father’s age, even age, your father’s age, even older than your father, and you older than your father, and you don’t have a right. They pay a don’t have a right. They pay a dowry that’s five cows and you dowry that’s five cows and you go.”go.”

Simantoi Kilama, MGEF Simantoi Kilama, MGEF AlumnaAlumna

Teen PregnancyTeen Pregnancyo Discussing sex is taboo in Maasai culture, and so, Discussing sex is taboo in Maasai culture, and so,

girls are not told how pregnancy happens or how girls are not told how pregnancy happens or how they can avoid it.they can avoid it.

o When a Maasai girl reaches puberty, she is required When a Maasai girl reaches puberty, she is required to leave her father’s home and sleep elsewhere. to leave her father’s home and sleep elsewhere. Without proper supervision, she is vulnerable to Without proper supervision, she is vulnerable to sexual advances from men, placing her at risk of sexual advances from men, placing her at risk of contracting HIV and becoming pregnant.contracting HIV and becoming pregnant.

o Teen pregnancy is the second most frequent reason Teen pregnancy is the second most frequent reason that Maasai girls drop out of school.that Maasai girls drop out of school.

Female Genital Mutilation Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)(FGM)

o As a prelude to marriage, approximately 90% of As a prelude to marriage, approximately 90% of Maasai girls undergo a dangerous practice called Maasai girls undergo a dangerous practice called FGM.FGM.

o Side effects include psychological trauma, an Side effects include psychological trauma, an excruciating recovery process, and even death.excruciating recovery process, and even death.

o Circumcision increases the risk of mother and Circumcision increases the risk of mother and infant mortality.infant mortality.

o Uncircumcised girls are often outcast, bullied, Uncircumcised girls are often outcast, bullied, and considered ineligible for marriage.and considered ineligible for marriage.

HIV/AIDSHIV/AIDSo Statistics show that girls in Kenya between the ages of 15 to Statistics show that girls in Kenya between the ages of 15 to

24 are four to six times more likely to become infected with 24 are four to six times more likely to become infected with HIV than boys.HIV than boys.

o Though the average national HIV infection rate is six-Though the average national HIV infection rate is six-percent, the Maasai have a staggering infection rate of percent, the Maasai have a staggering infection rate of thirteen-percent.thirteen-percent.

o As with other sex-related topics, Maasai girls are not taught As with other sex-related topics, Maasai girls are not taught about HIV and how it is spread.about HIV and how it is spread.

o Maasai girls are often seduced by older men – who are more Maasai girls are often seduced by older men – who are more likely to have HIV – as they are more successful at likely to have HIV – as they are more successful at negotiating unprotected sex, promising money and security.negotiating unprotected sex, promising money and security.

Where We Are…Where We Are…MGEF serves three districts in Southern Kenya: Kajiado, Ngong, and MGEF serves three districts in Southern Kenya: Kajiado, Ngong, and

Loitokitok. Two-thirds of the Maasai live in these semi-arid lands Loitokitok. Two-thirds of the Maasai live in these semi-arid lands between Nairobi and the Tanzanian border, many in remote villages (as between Nairobi and the Tanzanian border, many in remote villages (as

shown below):shown below):

BeginningsBeginnings

1999:1999: Founder and President, Founder and President, Barbara Lee Shaw, visited a Barbara Lee Shaw, visited a Maasai village near Kilonito, Maasai village near Kilonito, Kenya for a freelance Kenya for a freelance photography project. While photography project. While there, she met Ntanin, a young there, she met Ntanin, a young girl who had never been to girl who had never been to school, and learned that school, and learned that numerous cultural and economic numerous cultural and economic barriers prevent other Maasai barriers prevent other Maasai girls from going to school. girls from going to school.

Our First StudentOur First Student

Ntanin is her father’s 22Ntanin is her father’s 22ndnd child and the 6 child and the 6thth child child of his third wife (he has four). Not one girl in her of his third wife (he has four). Not one girl in her

family had enrolled in school. Barbara asked Ntanin’s family had enrolled in school. Barbara asked Ntanin’s father if she could pay for her education and, when his father if she could pay for her education and, when his

answer was “yes,” she began sponsoring Ntanin.answer was “yes,” she began sponsoring Ntanin.

TimelineTimelineo 1999: 1999: Upon her return to the US, Upon her return to the US,

Barbara shared this story with her Barbara shared this story with her friends and family. Soon, they were friends and family. Soon, they were asking to sponsor Maasai girls, too!asking to sponsor Maasai girls, too!

o 2000:2000: Maasai Girls Education Fund Maasai Girls Education Fund (MGEF) was established(MGEF) was established

o 2001:2001: MGEF became a 501(c)3 MGEF became a 501(c)3 nonprofitnonprofit

Beyond Beyond Scholarships:Scholarships:Educating the Educating the

CommunityCommunity

Community Education Community Education ProgramsPrograms

o Life Skills Workshops for GirlsLife Skills Workshops for Girlso Annual Mentoring WorkshopAnnual Mentoring Workshopo Mothers WorkshopsMothers Workshopso Business Training for Rural Maasai Business Training for Rural Maasai

WomenWomeno Life Skills Workshops for BoysLife Skills Workshops for Boyso Chiefs and Elders WorkshopsChiefs and Elders Workshops

Life Skills Workshops for Life Skills Workshops for GirlsGirls

Challenge: Challenge:

In Maasai culture, sex is a taboo subject. Girls are not In Maasai culture, sex is a taboo subject. Girls are not taught how to protect themselves against pregnancy and taught how to protect themselves against pregnancy and HIV/AIDS. They also have no knowledge of FGM until it is HIV/AIDS. They also have no knowledge of FGM until it is being performed on them. Both circumcision and early being performed on them. Both circumcision and early marriage are done without consent, and girls don’t know marriage are done without consent, and girls don’t know they have the legal right to refuse.they have the legal right to refuse.

Solution:Solution:

Life Skills Workshops educate Maasai girls about Life Skills Workshops educate Maasai girls about pregnancy and how to prevent it, HIV/AIDS and how it is pregnancy and how to prevent it, HIV/AIDS and how it is spread, as well as national laws that forbid early marriage spread, as well as national laws that forbid early marriage and FGM. The girls are given resources and informed about and FGM. The girls are given resources and informed about government and tribal authorities who can stop forced government and tribal authorities who can stop forced marriage and circumcision. They are empowered to make marriage and circumcision. They are empowered to make their own choices and thus, lead healthier lives.their own choices and thus, lead healthier lives.

Annual Mentoring Annual Mentoring WorkshopWorkshop

Challenge:Challenge:

When Maasai girls reach puberty they are strongly When Maasai girls reach puberty they are strongly pressured, if not forced, to drop out of school and pressured, if not forced, to drop out of school and marry. If they have not been circumcised, the return to marry. If they have not been circumcised, the return to their home village during school break could turn into their home village during school break could turn into an FGM ceremony. Adolescent girls are also vulnerable an FGM ceremony. Adolescent girls are also vulnerable to sexual advances from men, increasing their chance of to sexual advances from men, increasing their chance of contracting HIV or becoming pregnant.contracting HIV or becoming pregnant.

Solution:Solution:o The Annual Mentoring Workshop is a three-day The Annual Mentoring Workshop is a three-day

gathering of current MGEF students, alumnae, and gathering of current MGEF students, alumnae, and professional Maasai women, where girls are taught life professional Maasai women, where girls are taught life skills and provided mentors for advice, support, and skills and provided mentors for advice, support, and inspiration.inspiration.

At the Annual Mentoring At the Annual Mentoring Workshop, students are Workshop, students are

asked to think about asked to think about what they want to be, to what they want to be, to envision a better future envision a better future

in spite of the challenges in spite of the challenges they face, and to believe they face, and to believe in themselves. This list in themselves. This list

was compiled in was compiled in December 2011.December 2011.

Mothers WorkshopsMothers WorkshopsChallenge:Challenge:

Cultural taboos prevent mothers from talking to their Cultural taboos prevent mothers from talking to their daughters about sex, and because women have no power daughters about sex, and because women have no power in their family or community, they cannot effectively in their family or community, they cannot effectively advocate for the girl child. In addition, many myths persist advocate for the girl child. In addition, many myths persist about the benefits of FGM, perpetuating the practice.about the benefits of FGM, perpetuating the practice.

Solution:Solution:

The Mothers Workshop explains the importance of talking The Mothers Workshop explains the importance of talking to daughters about teen pregnancy, HIV, and the adverse to daughters about teen pregnancy, HIV, and the adverse impact of FGM on women’s health: death, difficult child impact of FGM on women’s health: death, difficult child birth, and increased infant and maternal mortality. They birth, and increased infant and maternal mortality. They are also encouraged to build safe, protected homes for the are also encouraged to build safe, protected homes for the daughters who are no longer allowed to reside in their daughters who are no longer allowed to reside in their father’s hut.father’s hut.

Business Trainings for Rural Business Trainings for Rural Maasai WomenMaasai Women

Challenge:Challenge:

Maasai women have no rights in their community or Maasai women have no rights in their community or home. Men hold all the power and make all the home. Men hold all the power and make all the decisions, both in the private and public sphere. With decisions, both in the private and public sphere. With little to no education or source of income, Maasai little to no education or source of income, Maasai women face a life of subordination and poverty. women face a life of subordination and poverty.

Solution:Solution:

Business Training provides management tools and seed Business Training provides management tools and seed grants to rural Maasai women. When a Maasai woman grants to rural Maasai women. When a Maasai woman gains economic power, she acquires a voice in family gains economic power, she acquires a voice in family decisions. She has the resources to educate all her decisions. She has the resources to educate all her children and to protect them from early marriage and children and to protect them from early marriage and FGM.FGM.

Life Skills Workshop for Life Skills Workshop for Boys & Chiefs and Elders Boys & Chiefs and Elders

WorkshopsWorkshopsChallenge:Challenge:

In order to achieve gender equality, men and boys must be involved. In order to achieve gender equality, men and boys must be involved. Only men have the authority to change cultural traditions and Only men have the authority to change cultural traditions and practices that contribute to the spread of HIV and the high level of practices that contribute to the spread of HIV and the high level of teen pregnancy. teen pregnancy.

Solution:Solution:

The Life Skills Workshops for men and boys invoke pride in the man to The Life Skills Workshops for men and boys invoke pride in the man to raise his family out of poverty, prevent the spread of HIV and protect raise his family out of poverty, prevent the spread of HIV and protect against teen pregnancy, and end violence against women, including against teen pregnancy, and end violence against women, including FGM. The connection between certain cultural practices and HIV are FGM. The connection between certain cultural practices and HIV are explained, especially where it involves promiscuity. They learn that explained, especially where it involves promiscuity. They learn that FGM also contributes to the spread of HIV, and that it is harmful to FGM also contributes to the spread of HIV, and that it is harmful to girls and women, a painful procedure that sometimes results in death, girls and women, a painful procedure that sometimes results in death, makes childbirth more difficult, and increases maternal and infant makes childbirth more difficult, and increases maternal and infant mortality. Men are encouraged to partner with their wives to protect mortality. Men are encouraged to partner with their wives to protect their children against HIV and teen pregnancy.  their children against HIV and teen pregnancy.  

UN Millennium GoalsUN Millennium Goals

MGEF programming supports the following UN MGEF programming supports the following UN Millennium Goals:Millennium Goals:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education2. Achieve universal primary education

3. Gender equality3. Gender equality

4. Reduce child mortality4. Reduce child mortality

5. Improve maternal health5. Improve maternal health

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and other 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and other diseasesdiseases

Educating the Educating the CommunityCommunity

o Life Skills Workshops for GirlsLife Skills Workshops for Girls

o Annual Mentoring WorkshopAnnual Mentoring Workshop

o Business Trainings for Rural Maasai WomenBusiness Trainings for Rural Maasai Women

o Mothers WorkshopsMothers Workshops

MGEF and Dining for Women are MGEF and Dining for Women are partnering to fund: partnering to fund: