Maasai Women’s Organization

Maasai Women Organize

Monduli Women’s Pastoralist Organization

The women of the Maasai Stoves & Solar Project are deeply committed. As a result, they love the work and the feelings of new power and freedom coming from their participation.

Member of the Maasai Stoves & Solar Team

In 2013, to determine and achieve their own goals as Maasai women, they formed a new group. Named the Maasai Pastoralist Women’s Organization (MPWO), it now has more than 100 dues-paying members. They meet to address their most urgent concerns. The group continues to work towards the health and life improvement goals of the Maasai Stoves & Solar Project.

The members elected officers and set up mechanisms to coordinate participants from two different areas. They are from areas near Monduli Town and also from the Rift Valley.

The MPWO is an important partner for the ICSEE. They are also participating in the experiments with alternative livestock management practices at the new ICSEE feedlot in the Rift Valley.

Today, 218 women are MWPO members.

Congratulations to the MPWO. View their website.

Making History in the Developing World

The MPWO started livestock businesses with capital from ICSEE. Rather than selling cattle immediately, they first fatten their goats and bulls and sell them at a profit. As a result, they support their programs for live improvement.

Young bulls are part of the women’s first livestock project

This sort of business is unprecedented for Maasai women, and the men are extremely interested in seeing their wives and sisters making a success of it.

Aims of the Maasai Pastoralists Women’s Organization

The MPWO does not want to stick to traditional Maasai financial activities, and applied for money to start a concrete brick manufacturing business. Most noteworthy,  they aim to help all women and girls get the education and independence they need. The MPWO realizes that it will be a gradual process.

They welcomed Kira Levin, a student from Brandeis University. She was awarded a grant from the Davis foundation to help the MPWO  learn and manage modern electronic communications. She facilitated the launch of two new chicken and egg businesses to serve as their learning laboratory for business management and marketing.

Joyce Olitai

In addition to graduate students Elise Willer and Rebecca Sliwoski, Kira is one of three Brandeis women who have helped the MPWO establish themselves in this world of internet, world wide web, and fundraising.