Now that we’ve trained community leaders, we’re well underway with our newest program. Let’s take a look at how early lessons are already resonating with our 11 Grazing Management Committees.

Community Development

When asked what communities needed from us, GMCs immediately mentioned motorcycles; they wanted to use the vehicles as a way to monitor farmers—who, consequently, hadn’t been trained in grazing management in any way. The first step we took, then, was to reinforce the idea of a community with one main goal: grass conservation to support cow health. Collectively, we decided that teaching GMCs to teach their communities’ farmers was a more important “need.”

The other difficulty we faced was trying to convince farmers that the work they were being asked to do would benefit them in the end. Individual farmers are just that—individuals—and, without knowing the plan, they were hesitant to work together. We used early meetings with these communities as a way to build a consensus for what everyone wanted to accomplish. GMCs, then, could go over their plans on how to manage the grass.

Water is Life Kenya’s (WILK) Co-Founder Joseph Larasha also brought up an important point for farmers to consider: “What are livestock for?” Often, Maasai consider cattle to be worth more than their own families, to the point where money would be used to support cows before anything else. But cows build income that will support their families, so farmers had to rethink their approach towards traditional husbandry.

We’ve managed to pass on a lot of information to many people during each meeting. Sometimes hundreds of people will show up to listen in and learn from WILK, Larasha, and the GMCs. More importantly, what tends to happen after our trainings is that what we teach is then shared with friends and families. The impact of these lessons travels far and wide, and we couldn’t be happier.

A Thousand Trained, Thousands to Go

Since donations started coming in, we’ve helped GMCs lead community trainings in Ogulului, Enkong’u Narok, Oloilalei, Loolakir, and Esiteti. In the last two weeks, we’ve trained over 1,000 farmers. We’ll train thousands more before the summer’s over.

For 11 years, WILK has been teaching livestock farmers how to run successful businesses and prevent losses when droughts come through our Livestock as a Business (LAB) program. During these community trainings, we’ve been sharing those same lessons about drought cycle management, buying and selling, and working together as a community. We’ve taken to calling this portion of the training “LAB Lite.”

People are seeing the vision, and they are jumping on board. Healthy grass means healthy livestock, stable family incomes, a robust, resilient ecosystem, strengthened wild animal herds, increased tourism, and more prosperity for the entire community.

We have so many people to thank for believing in us and our mission. We’re proud of the work we’ve done to help communities in Kajiado County, Kenya, but we’re not finished. We’ll continue to teach more communities about grass management and conservation over the rest of the summer months. And, hopefully, more Maasai will be ready when the next drought strikes—and will have the skills to keep their cows alive.

The post Planning for Pasture: Program Update appeared first on Water is Life Kenya.

Why Care About Grass?

Traditional Maasai livestock keepers are strongly conservative in terms of preserving their culture and way of doing things, including grazing habits. Pastoralists decide how and where to graze their animals in communal grazing areas, but they have never been trained about the impact of managed grazing.

85% of Maasai income comes from livestock, but livestock can only be healthy and sellable if they eat well. This means that managing pasture strategically is critical to economic stability.

While some Maasai lost everything in the recent three-year drought, they haven’t taken advantage of the abundant grass growing now that it’s raining again. And the one thing we know is that another drought will occur eventually. We need to prepare now to prevent the loss of livestock.

Illiteracy is also a major hurdle in the communities where we work, so we have found that effective, practical education is key. Investing in education on this critical topic could make a huge difference. Even if 10-20% of the nearly 12,000 livestock farmers in this region start sharing this vision, the ecosystem can be greener and more prosperous within three years.

Our Plan for Pasture

Livestock keepers participating in our LAB program managed to keep their animals alive during the recent drought. This is due to skillful pasture conservation and planning ahead.

We decided to bring this same method to the Grazing Management Committee (GMC) leaders through a new program called Planning for Pasture. First we spent time understanding their needs. Then we developed a curriculum to empower all GMCs to train community members and build cooperation between them.

We teach the committees to set goals and then develop indicators to measure success. We also teach drought cycle management and pasture conservation. Finally, we “train the trainers to train” by assigning topics to the committee members. This lets them practice teaching and designing lesson plans which prepares them to teach their communities later on.

So far, the responses from the 176 people we have trained have been extremely positive. Several members said, “We’ve never had training like this before. When are you coming back?”

Setting Maasai Up for Success

We are successful because we partner with and in communities to build lasting capacity—rather than dictate policies from a desk thousands of miles away. Together with the GMCs, we have begun promoting the vision of a “3D Free Zone”—a “No Death During Drought Zone.”

You can help us support Maasai grass managers by contributing to our Planning for Pasture Campaign. Doing so will lead to more secure household income because of stable animal body conditions and fewer fluctuations in animal values, which means less stress and more prosperity for families.

We are nearly halfway to our goal of $48,800 for this project. Your gift—at any level—will get us closer to providing the education and support that Maasai need to thrive in their challenging environment.

Grazing management is a natural extension of our work, which provides clean water and livestock business skills. This level of planning and education will go a long way in guaranteeing a healthy and prosperous future for Maasai and their ecosystem. With a shared vision and cooperation fostered by a strong community training program, the crazy ups and downs caused by the drought can finally be a thing of the past.

The post Planning for Pasture: Helping Maasai Avoid Livestock Loss During Drought appeared first on Water is Life Kenya.

Some of our donors have read McCrummen’s article and wondered how we felt about it. Here, we’re going to talk about the article, the potential impact of having more Maasai in Kenya, and how our values align with those held by Maasai.

“No cows, no life”

Stephanie McCrummen’s article “The Great Serengeti Land Grab” categorizes the systematic removal of Tanzanian Maasai from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Much of the article focuses on Songoyo, a Maasai who once was a prominent herder with 75 cows and land to support their grazing.

McCrummen met Songoyo after his cows and land had already been seized. He’d grown up in the traditional Maasai lifestyle and, as such, valued cattle above all else: “No cows, no life.” But in June 2022, Tanzanian security forces called a “routine ruling-party meeting” then arrested 27 Maasai leaders. Soldiers and police surrounded the boma and, after one Maasai warrior shot an arrow and killed a police officer, security forces fired at the Maasai. The land has now been developed into the Pololeti Game Reserve for the Dubai royal family.

Land grabs like this aren’t new in Tanzania. Maasai used to live in what is now Serengeti National Park—until they were pushed out in 1959 and relocated to Ngorongoro. Then, in 2022, the United Arab Emirates made a $7.5 billion deal with the Tanzanian government to promote “tourism and conservation.” But large-game trophy hunting by UAE royalty in helicopters with semiautomatic weapons takes place instead. Also, UAE Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook al-Maktoum owns 8% of forested land in Tanzania; he sells “carbon credits” to companies that want to show a reduced carbon footprint.

Songoyo now herds sheep to sell in Kenya, walking 130 miles a week. His goal is to buy a cow and start his life over, but he earns only about $10 every week. Half of that is used to feed his family. He owes a debt for five sheep that a hyena killed en route to Kilgoris, Kenya. A cow costs around $200. But he refuses to give up, even though he’s lost weight and has 14 children to feed.

Impact on Kenyan Maasai

The Tanzanian government is vastly different from the Kenyan government. While changing land laws in Kenya also caused a land grab, Kenyan culture encourages tribes, like Maasai, to practice their traditions. Tanzanians, however, have been all but forced to drop their tribal customs to promote a unified Tanzanian identity. Swahili is the country’s official language and, while other languages like Maa are not illegal, they’re prohibited in education and discouraged at political gatherings.

Tanzanian Maasai, then, who have been forced out of Ngorongoro are heading to areas over the border. This includes Kajaido County, where it’s possible to find land for their cattle to graze on. But, as McCrummen points out, there are other difficulties to overcome. They have to dodge wild animals as they search for grazing ground. Also, some Kenyans, who already don’t have enough grass, chase Tanzanian Maasai off their property.

Add in the detrimental effects of climate change, and Maasai—both Kenyan and Tanzanian—must compete with wildlife (elephants, wildebeests, and other large game animals) for already-strapped resources. And, considering the devastation caused by the three-year-long drought, more people and cows will put additional pressure on land in Kenya.

Our Values at WILK

We at Water is Life Kenya (WILK) have tremendous respect for Maasai, their traditions, and their lifestyle. As McCrummen noted, some Maasai go on to higher education or choose professions that are neither pastoral nor agrarian. But for the most part, Maasai are proud of their culture and many want to continue to practice it as they have for hundreds of years.

We at WILK have worked with Maasai herders and farmers for 17 years. We listen to their needs and respond by offering programs that have been adapted to their culture. Although we offer new ideas and techniques, we do not insist that Maasai change what they do to earn a living. Rather, we work together so that they don’t have to give up their traditional lifestyle.

While we’re distressed by McCrummen’s report, we’re hopeful that Kenyan Maasai will not have to face the same treatment from the Kenyan government. We regularly help Maasai apply for permits and applications, which allow us to build deep borehole wells and organize our Livestock as a Business (LAB) groups. We also helped Maasai widows secure their land plots after the revised Land Act by filling out paperwork and paying fees they couldn’t afford. Overall, there’s more to gain from supporting Maasai than from suppressing them.

The post From Home to Homeless: Displaced Maasai in Crisis appeared first on Water is Life Kenya.

This is the story of how we’re bringing water to Lositeti.

Water Troubles

We talk a lot about how long many women and their daughters have to walk to find water in Kenya. Lositeti was no different. Even last week, when we discussed the issue with women who live there, they said it takes about six hours round-trip to bring water home. Sometimes, because the “water hole” didn’t necessarily have any water.

Instead, women “scooped” in a sand bed to try to retrieve whatever water they could. About 1/3 of the time, they wouldn’t get anything beyond sand. And the area was busy: both people and wild animals all went there for the same reason, looking for water in an area where it was supposed to be. Also, because of the animals’ waste, the water wasn’t safe for consumption.

Plus, it’s hot. Imagine walking all that way for nothing.

Economic Difficulties

People in Lositeti are still struggling after the devastating drought that just ended in Kenya. Many cows died from lack of grass and water, leaving Maasai without their traditional means of savings. They haven’t been able to replace the lost cows, either. Right now, they can only afford to eat maize because beans are hard to come by. People are so poor and isolated that, even with the rain falling now, they can’t bounce back.

Lositeti is the most remote of our water projects, and Michael traveled a long way to reach us. Even though he’d heard of us through interacting with other communities, other people in Lositeti weren’t aware of how we could help.

The Road Less Traveled

Recent rain meant the road couldn’t support the weight of the trucks bringing in the drilling equipment. On February 19, after they’d had some time to dry, we decided to test the road. At one point, the trucks got stuck in a muddy spot. It took some persistence and elbow grease, but by the end of the day the drilling rig and casings were in place. What a celebration for our friend Michael on his birthday!

Drilling began the following day. We hit the first aquifer at 28 meters, which was much sooner than we expected. Ultimately, we drilled down to about 150 meters (almost 500 feet) where we decided the rate of the water flow would be sufficient. On February 26, we began test pumping. Early reports from the people who filled their water jugs suggest that the water is “tasty.” More importantly, about two minutes after we stopped pumping the water level rose back to where it needed to be.

Building a Better Future with Water

The construction of the borehole in Lositeti will take several months. There are also decisions to make regarding the size of the pump and how to power it. These choices will determine how many connections to the new water source can be made as well as how much it will cost to keep the borehole running. In an area where there isn’t much money, it’s important to plan out as much as possible to avoid making costly changes later on.

We’re hopeful that the good luck we’ve had in Lositeti will continue, and we’re so grateful to Rotary District 7630 and the rest of our faithful donors who contributed towards this water project. We can’t wait to complete the borehole so that Lositeti will have fresh, clean water available for a long time to come.

The post The Path to Water: Bringing a Borehole to Lositeti appeared first on Water is Life Kenya.

In honor of World Day of Social Justice, let’s take a look at how our focus on people has enabled us to continue supporting Maasai as they overcome life in the unforgiving, beautiful land they call home.

Seeking People-Specific Solutions

The area where we work in Keyna, central and southern Kajiado County, may seem limited. But with scarce resources and social isolation, the people who live there need our help the most. These resources include basic necessities, like water, that we don’t even think about. And because people live so far away from each other, the cost to obtain these resources is usually out of reach.

Only after we learn about a community and its culture can we offer the best method of assistance. Therefore, we drive on rough roads to rural locations, set up chairs in the shade, and listen to what people have to say. Once we realize what their needs are, we figure out ways to help them help themselves—whether that’s by constructing boreholes, offering income-generating programs and training sessions, or, in some circumstances, just distributing food.

Ways We Help

The projects and programs we offer have evolved since WILK started operating in 2007. We began with Clean Water (WASH) Projects, since water is the key to living in this semi-arid region. But water isn’t free, so a steady income is also a necessity for Maasai living near our boreholes. We began the Livestock as a Business (LAB) Program as a way to mitigate the cost of maintaining the boreholes, which is part of the reason why our water projects are so successful.

Our LAB program is also important because there are no Maasai without cattle. The income in this region comes from livestock, and people needed better skills to manage their herds. Livestock benefit from fresh water, disease treatment, and grass storage. We’ve developed LAB lessons to teach different methods that improve cattle quality and, therefore, bring in more money from the market.

We also don’t leave people in the lurch. For instance, when we realized that widows were struggling to meet their daily needs and couldn’t obtain their rightful land, we developed the Hope for Widows Program. By developing businesses, widows could afford their land deeds and take care of themselves and their children. All of these programs work because we take a personalized approach to serving Maasai communities.

Facing—and Bringing—Challenges

Every now and then, someone needs a boost. Considering the many obstacles Maasai face, we are constantly listening and learning about outside factors that might hinder progress for program participants. Last year, for instance, we noticed that some of the women in our Hope for Widows program weren’t saving money for their businesses. Remember that most of them were still dealing with the three-year-long drought that plagued Kenya. Instead of saving and reinvesting their profits, women were using any profit from their businesses to pay for personal expenses like food, school fees, and other daily needs.

It became clear that they needed an incentive to save more money (and keep their funds separated). To inspire greater savings, we pitched a savings competition: the five women with the highest savings would have their savings doubled. A few weeks later, we checked their savings boxes. The top earners had saved between $20 and $30 (around 2,000 to 3,000 Kenyan shillings). They were running strong businesses, their savings were doubled, and they were proud of themselves.

What we’ve learned from our community development work over the past 17 years is that empowering others is a formula. We design ways to help them succeed, and we celebrate them with each goal they achieve. These women bore the brunt of the drought head-on and, against the odds, they were able to turn a profit, send their kids to school, and save money on a shoestring budget. We’ll continue to help them navigate problems like climate change and poverty because we know they can succeed.

We Can Do Even More

There’s so much we take for granted in the United States—clean water, a prosperous economy, substantial rain. But in Kenya, none of these are guaranteed. Our presence on the ground and our commitment to help these communities flourish is still needed.

But unlike other organizations who care about numbers more than people, WILK puts Love into Action. We always keep the beneficiaries—who are real people—at the heart of what we do because they deserve to live in a stable environment, have access to clean water, earn an education, and practice their cultural traditions.

We care about our Maasai friends in Kenya and want to help them thrive. We’ll continue to serve them in ways that make sense culturally, strategically, and personally. And we’ll continue to find new, exciting ways to support them as we work together, along with our donors, for lasting change.

The post How to Affect Lasting Changes: People-Centered Work in Kenya appeared first on Water is Life Kenya.

New Water Projects

Our donors helped us and those whom we serve get through the ferocious drought. The generosity of our WILK community funded water projects, food relief, and the restocking of livestock. The supply of clean water from our dozens of water projects also supported life and kept people clean and healthy.

This year, with your generosity combined with the power of strong partnerships, our Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Program will bring more clean water to at least three new communities in southern Kenya: Lositeti, Olmoti, and Olasiti. Currently, we’re standing by with the drilling machine to break ground in Lositeti for their water project.

Continuing the LAB Reboot

WILK’s Livestock as a Business (LAB) Program has been teaching many farmers critical skills. LAB members, past and present, reported that most of their livestock survived the drought. Some goals of LAB’s training are to improve the management of and increase the income from livestock, the main source of income in our region. And it works. Learned skills (pasture conservation, disease prevention and control, well-timed buying and selling of livestock, and drought cycle management) empower livestock farmers to manage their resources and keep their animals alive, their families fed, and their children in school.

WILK’S LAB program reboot is going strong. Nine groups received training and livestock loans this past fall. The cattle purchased with livestock loans in November and December are fattening nicely and will bring profit to the groups.

Currently, more women’s groups than men’s groups want to join LAB. But we found higher-than-expected livestock losses in some families of women LAB members. Although we train them, when it comes to actual decisions all these women can do is say to their husbands, “We learned it’s good to sell livestock on time, before they are too skinny, and use the money from the sale to manage our other cows.” Not every husband listened to his wife, so cows died. We plan to extend this program to reach more men, who make the decisions for livestock in their families.

Our own Livestock Farmers – Larasha and Nelson

At the cattle restocking ceremony last year, we gave a mini-LAB lesson to the recipients of the livestock and the other attendees. The reception of the message was good, especially since the benefits of the training were obvious. WILK co-founder, Joseph Larasha, hosted the ceremony at his home in front of his newly constructed animal feed store.

He said, “You can feed cows at home and save your cows. When cows stay home, they save energy and don’t need as much food since they no longer walk long distances.” People saw how healthy and numerous his cows were. They also saw the feed store, which he’s filling with food to prepare for the next drought.

Nelson Tinayo, WILK field officer and member of the Ilmarba Livestock Farmer Group (which lost cows during the drought), shared his experience at the ceremony: “There is no reason for the drought to kill cows if we store food for our cows and sell at the right time. You need to look at your capacity to feed the cows you have. When you can’t feed them all, sell some to buy food for others and those will survive.”

The LAB Graduate Cooperative

One powerful tool for training is through the new livestock cooperative formed by individuals who are members of graduated groups. In Kenya, a cooperative is “a self-governing group of people who have come together to address their economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a business that they own and control democratically.”

The Nashumu Cooperative (meaning “to lift up”) was formed in 2019 to promote continuing economic development and a community of smart livestock farmers. The 45 cooperative members come out of livestock farmer groups that completed four years of the LAB program. They didn’t want to lose the benefits of training, good community spirit, continuous learning, and camaraderie of the LAB program. Their main activities are to buy, fatten, and market livestock.

With support from WILK in 2024, the cooperative can be a powerful example of successful livestock keeping in WILK’s work region and a force to propel recovery from the drought. A main area of focus for both LAB and the cooperative will be to implement and provide good examples of pasture conservation and improvement, focusing on the construction of stores, improvement, and protection of grasslands.

Look for More from WILK

With your support, we look forward to great things ahead as we work together for a 2024 full of growth and prosperity. Thank you for ALL YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT, and best wishes for a brilliant year ahead!

Much Love,

Joyce Tannian and the WILK USA and WILK Kenya teams

The post The Year Ahead: WILK’s Goals for 2024 appeared first on Water is Life Kenya.

50 Families Have Cows and Goats

The recent drought in Kenya, the worst in 40 years, devastated families across the region. Over the last several months, there’s been enough rain to pool areas of water and encourage grass growth, both of which are needed so cultivated livestock can survive.

While we waited for conditions to become sustainable, we trained three new and six reactivated LAB groups. Previous participants welcomed back the LAB program, which has taught livestock management and disease prevention since 2011. New participants also received training over the summer as a way to prepare them for their cows and goats.

In December, we purchased the livestock from the market. Our donor community helped us buy a total of 25 cows and 50 goats. A person received either two goats or one cow, which means that 50 families benefitted from the Restock & Restore Campaign. One woman even walked five miles to the meet-up spot—without shoes on. When our team asked if she needed to borrow a pair to walk back, she said, “I have a cow now—I don’t need shoes.”

Lives Have Changed Already

Cows and goats change everything for families in need. Especially after the long drought, livestock gives hope to people who lost animals and income. Those who own cows are given more respect by their peers—and have more confidence in themselves. Cows are a long-term investment for Maasai livestock farmers. They equal currency and can either be used as payment or sold for money. They’re also an important, inherent part of Maasai culture, both in ceremonial and practical use.

As an organization that relies on donor funds, we at Water is Life Kenya want to use our hard-won resources in the right way to get the desired results. We understand that the first step is to help people develop as individuals before transformation can happen at the family and community levels. Part of our mission is to equip Maasai with tools that develop income through improved resource management. Getting high-impact results in human development provides the evidence our generous donors need to know that their money is being used well.

We support Maasai livestock farmers, both in and beyond the LAB program, so that they can continue this long-practiced tradition. Livestock is life for Maasai and, through sharing what they learned, LAB graduates are spreading prosperity throughout their communities.

Entering the New Year with Cows

This first distribution inspired great hope in the communities we work in. People who hear about the distribution have approached our team, asking to be on the list for the next distribution.

Well, earlier this month we celebrated the 90th birthday of our Board President, Francis X. Tannian. Instead of gifts, family and friends donated cows in his honor. 22 recently purchased cows will be distributed on December 30th, right before the new year.

It’s shaping up a to be a bright 2024 for them and many other families as we continue this transformative work across Kajiado County, Kenya.

The post Cows and Goats: Gifts of Hope appeared first on Water is Life Kenya.

Training Highlight 1: Leadership & Ground Dynamics

The new LAB groups this year are from Kitirua, Esiteti, and Kelunyet. We train groups rather than individuals because by working together as a team they are more likely to be successful. Some of our first training sessions this summer taught participants about group dynamics and leadership roles. As you may remember from your time in school, perhaps the best way to learn–and remember–key lessons is through interactive demonstrations.

One example of a training activity is moving a full glass of water on a blanket as a group. Each person holds a corner of the blanket with the glass in the middle, then they have to move. The goal is to keep the glass upright, symbolically showing how members of the group need to work together—or else the water falls over.

We also teach using examples that Maasai are familiar with. This way, they can more easily connect the lessons with their businesses. In one training session, we use animal metaphors to identify group member personalities to decide what job each person should have, and which personalities to be cautious about. For example, someone who has the traits of a giraffe—with a vision for the future—would be a good leader. On the other hand, someone with the traits of a snake—quietly scheming for his or her own gain—needs to be watched closely.

Training Highlight 2: Livestock Disease Practical

Another key element of our LAB trainings is to identify previous business problems so that they can be corrected. Some participants have kept livestock before, while others are looking forward to owning their first animals. Either way, Maasai herders tend to manage livestock like their neighbors, even if those neighbors are practicing bad business techniques.

Our program teaches groups best-practice livestock management, disease prevention, control, and drought resilience. We instruct these farmers on livestock market surveys, timely buying and selling, budgeting and record-keeping, and grass conservation and management, all of which help increase profit margins. The goal of LAB is to help people have healthier herds, and more stable incomes, for the long run.

Recently, our new groups came together for the first time to participate in their Livestock Disease Practical. Participants learned valuable lessons as local veterinarians demonstrated how to care for, treat, and prevent illness in their livestock. Some members have used medicine before, but scarcely and often in ways not based in evidence.

This hands-on practical not only gave LAB members experience in administering medicine, but also empowered them with confidence to treat their animals from life-threatening diseases. By learning about common threats to their herds, farmers can be better prepared to identify warning signs of disease, prevent livestock casualties, and keep their animals vital. In turn, teaching LAB groups these skills offers the chance for better profit margins when it’s time to sell in the market.

Training Highlight 3: New Business Seminar

No matter where you are in the world, starting a small business is challenging. So, to cap off these critical training, we also hosted a three-day New Business Seminar in Oloitokitok. For many participants, this was their first traveling this far from home–and sleeping in a hotel!

Alongside local business experts, our team instructed LAB groups in keeping records, managing their herds, the best times to buy and sell, and navigating market days. Two of our LAB groups are women’s groups, and most of these women never attended the livestock market before. By practicing with a mock market, they got to practice bartering, speaking up for themselves, and having confident postures. All the lessons they learned these days will be practiced as they move forward with their groups.

After these training sessions, some people are already putting their lessons into practice. One woman named Nkameroi convinced her husband to sell two bulls in order to buy another breed. Likewise, Nailepu told her husband that her business was failing because of its location, so he’s building her a small shop. This direct application of their new skills shows how eager they are to learn as much as possible about making the most out of what they have.

Looking Ahead: Market Day for Old and New Groups

For LAB participants, these core trainings inform their decisions in the coming years. The LAB program lasts 4 years, with the bulk of new trainings occurring in year one. After that, it’s about practicing, learning from mistakes, and working as a group to turn a strong profit.

Currently, there are six LAB groups in years 2-4 of the program. There was a seventh group, but their area was hit especially hard by the drought, so they decided to opt out of the program this next year.

After trainings, the critical portion of the LAB program are the livestock loans we give to groups. With cash in hand, we send these groups into the livestock market to buy animals when the time is right. The ideal market day–right before the seasonal rains–is approaching soon. With their new knowledge, the groups make reliable profits after this initial purchase. The money made by each group is also saved or reinvested so that groups eventually will no longer need the loans. This, in turn, promotes further community development because overall more money is in circulation.

We’re excited to watch as old and new LAB groups come together on market day and put their loans to good use. Soon, they will join the over 650 LAB graduates who’ve already changed their farming practices with this model. We can’t wait to see what they can accomplish, both together and on their own.

The post Livestock as a Business: Fall 2023 Update appeared first on Water is Life Kenya.

To coincide with the Great Migration, officials from Kenya and Tanzania have created the first annual Maasai Culture Week in Narok, which is just outside of Maasai Mara. However, you can learn more about how Maasai pastoralists interact with local animals without having to leave your home.

It’s All About Cattle

We already know the Maasai have a close cultural connection with cows and livestock. Not only are they synonymous with currency and wealth, but they also are used ritualistically for various purposes (such as a dowry or a payment).

Water is Life Kenya (WILK) helps Maasai maintain their traditional culture while benefitting from social institutions (like schools and businesses) so that they can choose how to live. One way we accomplish this is through our Livestock as a Business (LAB) program. We offer microloans and training to groups in Kajiado County so they can learn better livestock management skills. These groups can save or reinvest their improved earnings into preventative treatments and better cattle selection. We, then, build on indigenous knowledge to set our groups up for greater success.

Even though LAB was on hiatus because of the 2.5-year-long drought in Kenya, previous LAB groups managed to keep at least some of their cows alive. We did, however, have a graduation ceremony last year for the groups that previously completed their training. Now that the drought is over in some areas, LAB has restarted its program for four new groups (about 60 men and women): Nasinya, Lelem, Naretoi Noonkishu, and Nasaru Kuku.

Goats and Sheep, Too

While some Maasai women do have cattle herds of their own, most prefer to have smaller animals, like goats or sheep, that are easier to care for and provide more immediate means of making a profit. In fact, the widows from our first Hope for Widows group will give baby goats to the new group at the next Goats & Grants ceremony later this month!

The LAB and Hope for Widows programs offer both training and choices for women. WILK teaches women in these programs skills to use to build their businesses. Maasai women already have experience working with animals, so this training gives them opportunities to make enough money to care for themselves and their families—even during extreme drought conditions.

Don’t Forget the Wildlife

There is an indigenous animal population to live with, too. Recently, some of our friends have dealt with a lion attacking livestock in several areas. There are also elephants that really like our borehole water. And then there’s the Great Migration, which is in Kenya during this season. Maasai and Kenya’s wildlife have learned to coexist, but there are times when sharing the same land can be difficult.

Learning new skills and building on existing knowledge can help Maasai overcome challenges that they face daily. We at WILK want to give our friends every opportunity to not only succeed but also thrive. We can’t wait to tell you more about our newest LAB and Hope for Widows groups and all the things they achieve!

The post How our Livestock as a Business Program Upholds Maasai Tradition appeared first on Water is Life Kenya.

The Return of Thirst Reverse (two locations)

We’re returning to Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant for two Thirst Reverse Events. On Wednesday, April 19, you can find us in Newark, DE, from 11:00am-9:00pm. Then on Wednesday, May 3, we’ll be at Iron Hill in Ardmore, PA, from 4:00pm-9:00pm. You’ll also have a chance to purchase Kenyan-made beaded jewelry and handicrafts at our table.

20% of your food (in-house or to go) and non-alcoholic beverage purchases will be donated to Water is Life Kenya for our water and livestock projects, along with $1 from every pint of Kenyan Quench, which will be on tap. Let your server know you’d like to support Water is Life Kenya.

Reservations are recommended for both locations.

CoroAllegro & WILK Concerts (two locations)

Local musical ensemble CoroAllegro has invited our own Joyce Tannian to collaborate on their spring concert: Around the World in 80 Minutes. The first concert at Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Newark starts at 7:30pm on Friday, April 28, and the second at Concord Presbyterian Church in Wilmington starts at 7:00pm on Saturday, April 29. You’ll hear songs from different countries and cultures around the world. We’re grateful for the opportunity to co-present this concert, and even bring Kenyan music to Delaware! At each concert, our Beaded Handicrafts will be on sale. Tickets are $20 each. To purchase one, please click here.

University of Delaware’s AG Day

For the first time, Water is Life Kenya will be representing the Maasai community and our Livestock as a Business program at UD’s AG day! Activities, entertainment, animals, plant sales, educational exhibits, entertainment, and UDairy Creamery ice cream will all be present. The 2023 Ag Day theme, “Ag Around the Corner,” puts the spotlight on local farms and wildlife, with a particular focus on opportunities for young people to engage and participate in the future of agriculture and natural resources throughout Delaware. We can’t wait to be a part of this awesome event!

Newark Center For Creative Learning’s Greenfest

We’re happy to be celebrating sustainability with our friends over at the NCCL School for their annual Kid’s Greenfest celebration. NCCL School is an environmentally-conscious, progressive elementary/middle school located in Newark, Delaware. Greenfest is an educational event with the mission of promoting sustainable living for children and families in the local community.

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