Of the 120 indigenous tribes in East Africa, it is the Maasai who are the best known to the western world due to their distinctive customs and dress, and their residence near some of the greatest collections of wildlife on earth. These traditionally nomadic herders and warriors live in the vast open spaces of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya and Tanzania, sometimes referred to as Maasailand.
The Problem:
Survivors of a past era, the Maasai have lived much the same way their ancestors have for centuries. Unconcerned about the passing of time, their lives are dictated by the rising and setting of the sun, the rugged landscape, and the ever-changing seasons.
Survivors of a past era, the Maasai have lived much the same way their ancestors have for centuries. Unconcerned about the passing of time, their lives are dictated by the rising and setting of the sun, the rugged landscape, and the ever-changing seasons.
Today, the Maasai's rich, dynamic culture is under threat from pressures outside of their control - climate change, population growth, unsustainable grazing, land conversion and economic growth. Without the opportunity to understand and adapt to these changes, the Maasai are becoming more and more socially, economically, geographically and politically marginalized.
The Goal:
The MCF will work with Maasai communities to develop and implement locally sustainable, community-based projects that will educate and empower the Maasai while embracing and preserving the strengths of their culture. |
The Plan:
The MCF helps initiate community-based projects to equip, educate, and empower Maasai people. All of our projects are run in an environmentally and culturally sensitive way, while promoting conservation and the use of natural resources. |