Osiligi Charity Projects
Osiligi - the Maasai word for 'hope'.
Who are we?
A UK charity, working with the Maasai of Southern Kenya to help relieve the effects of poverty and to help provide basic needs. 'Helping Africa to help itself' drives all our actions.
What are we doing?
Raising money to:
- Build a
school to give a primary education to children.
- Sponsor children who are orphans or whose parents are too poor to support an education.
- Provide clean water for the community.
- Sponsor children who are orphans or whose parents are too poor to support an education.
- Provide clean water for the community.
- Loan money to a micro-finance initiative.
The project page gives details of all we do.We are not a children's charity, but much of what we do relieves the effects of poverty on children.
Why do we wish to help the Maasai?
Life is hard, infant mortality rates high and water rarely clean or close-by. People on average live to only 43.
The Maasai lifestyle is one of the oldest surviving tribal traditions. Traditionally, the Maasai were nomadic pastoralists, roaming with their cattle. School was unnecessary and impractical. Now, much of the land long used by their ancestors is tourist game reserves or fenced off. In 2008 and 2009 there were very bad droughts and many families lost over 90% of their cattle. Near starvation forced many Maasai to leave their homes and lifestyle. The Maasai say that they must now adapt to prevent starvation of their people.
Now, the Maasai want schools and a good education for their children.
What about the culture?
Our projects respect the Maasai culture. For example, Maasai teachers will staff the school so the children learn about their culture along with other studies. All our projects are done at the request of the community elders. As a charity with limited money, we work on the projects that have the biggest impact for the available money in that community. All the projects are targeted to help Africa help itself.
Who are the Osiligi Warriors troupe?
Since 2004, John Curtin has been assisting a Kenyan Maasai community by bringing a troupe of Warriors to visit the UK yearly. The Warriors come here to raise funds for their families. Their performances are a spectacle to behold. Separate from the Warriors, but working in conjunction with them, this UK charity was set-up to help relieve the effects of poverty in the Osiligi Warriors' community and in the wider Maasai community. Money from the performances goes to the Warriors and their families. Money given to the charity goes to support projects in the Warriors' community.
In 2010, the Warriors are touring Scotland in September and East Anglia in October. The dates are here
How can I help?
- To support the Charity's work in Kenya, send us a donation, organise a fund raising event or sponsor a child
To help the Warriors:
- Come and enjoy an evening's entertainment by the Warriors in the UK.
- Buy the village's Maasai gifts from the Warriors
- If you are a teacher, invite them to perform at your school
What happens if I donate or sponsor a child?
We are a 100% charity. This means that every penny you donate goes to Kenya. In the UK, all our time is freely given, and we pay for any flights, accommodation or expenses ourselves. The charity trustees pay for the running costs of the charity. This is their donation to the Maasai.
Join the Warriors on a sponsored walk starting Ely Cambridgeshire, 31st October. Or sponsor John Curtin, a trustee, to walk. More details here.
We hear "nothing gets done in Kenya". How wrong. Read more......
Why not help us via a fund raising event
The traditional Maasai
costume
Two of our sponsored
orphans
The land where we are
building
the new school
the new school