Maasailand Preservation Trust

As always things have been busy here at MPT. In the week since our last posting lots has happened and we hope that we can share all of this with you over the next few days, when all quietens down! But for now here is a blog about part of our education program.

Improving the quality of education in Maasailand is a major focus of our work. One key part of our Education Support Initiative is the Wildlife Scholarship Program which offers underprivileged students the education they deserve. Through this program we have put hundreds of students through primary, secondary, and tertiary education. We are helping people become, among other things, doctors, nurses, safari guides, teachers, accountants and conservationists. We encourage them to return and use their skills for the benefit of the local community.

This program is funded through individual donors, many of whom are guests of Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge, but we are now appealing through the blog to find more funding needed to sponsor the many students who have come to us for help, unable to continue paying their school fees as a direct repercussion of the drought.

Last week the MPT Wildlife Scholarship Student’s Day was held at the Enkijape School in Mbirikani town. This was a great opportunity for everyone to get together and discuss the last year. Nearly all of our current list of 61 students were in attendance, as well as MPT staff and Mbirikani Group Ranch officials. Below is what happened at the meeting in the words of one of our students, Happiness Ntiati.

“The meeting started with the introductions. I liked this part as we got to introduce the peoples sitting next to us and I said about my friend Faith. After this we were given speeches about the Maasailand Preservation Trust and what they do for us. I found most interesting the speech about the Predator Compensation Fund which pays the people for livestock that is killed by predators in return for us no longer killing the lions and others. I like this because I very much like animals and when I have children I want them to be able to see them too!”

“After we had the speeches from MPT we were invited to come to their offices with stories for the new blog. Then these students were given their chance to talk about their thoughts. Most peoples wanted to just thank but some had questions of their friends who also need a sponsor. Mr. Gwili from MPT said that he will try and find them sponsors through the internet.”

We would like to reiterate this appeal. We have a waiting list of nearly 200 students seeking sponsorship. If you or anyone you know would like to give a bright, young mind the opportunity of a lifetime then please contact us either through this blog or through email:  gwilimpt at gmail.com

“After a break and the sodas we were given the time to make our own presentations and win prizes. The students read poems, sang songs and other things.”

This day was a great opportunity for everyone involved in the Wildlife Scholarship Program to get together and have some fun. However, this situation needs your help. We are desperately looking for more funding to sponsor the needy students who’s parents can no longer afford school fees as a direct effect of the drought. If you think you can help us please do not hesitate to donate through this blog (specifying that your donation is for this program) or contact us for more information.

Thank you kindly,

The MPT Team

We at MPT believe that helping to improve the quality of life of the Maasai people will ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem. Therefore we work both alone and in collaboration with other organizations to put in place a three-pronged community education and healthcare program. This is done by providing healthcare to the community; sponsoring schools and teachers and providing education scholarships to those who would otherwise be unable to afford them; and through a supplementary environmental education program.

An initial partnership, in 2002, between MPT and the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Foundation, helped launch the Mbirikani Group Ranch Mobile Health Project, which focused on providing free quality healthcare to the Maasai people of Mbirikani Group Ranch. Under the direction and financial support of the Lurie Foundation, the project quickly expanded to include a fixed-base medical center and comprehensive outreach programme. The project became an independent registered U.S. public charity known as AID Village Clinics, Inc. Today, the Mbirikani Clinic serves Mbirikani Group Ranch members and surrounding communities comprised of approximately 70,000 people. Inspiration for the project came after Ann Lurie visited Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge and its surrounding communities.

Improving the quality of education in Maasailand is a key focus of our work. MPT