Maasai Education, Child Sponsor and clean water Charity

A UK charity, helping Africa help itself. Working in the Maasai areas of Kenya to help relieve poverty.

What do we do?

- Building a primary school to give an excellent education.
- Sponsoring children who are orphans or whose parents are too poor to support an education.
- Providing clean water for the community.
- Introducing solar lamps and solar cookers to replace harmful kerosene lamps, fumes and smoke.
-Making loans to a Women's Group for business start-ups.

Why do we wish to help in the Maasai areas?

The Maasai are one of the poorest tribes in Kenya. Life is hard, infant mortality high and drinking water rarely clean or close-by. Maasai people on average live to less than 50, less than the rest of Kenya and much less than the UK.

The Maasai lifestyle is one of the oldest surviving tribal traditions. In the past, 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. The climate is changing and in 2008 and 2009 there were very bad droughts. 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. They want schools and a good education for their children in order to have Masai doctors, engineers and teachers.

What about the culture?

Our projects respect Maasai culture and are done at the request of the community elders. Some initiatives involve a change to lifestyle, i.e. replacing fume producing kerosene lamps with clean solar lamps, but these are only done where there are health improvements. As a charity with limited money, we work on the projects that have the biggest impact for the available money. All the projects are targeted to help Africa help itself.

Who are the Osiligi Warriors troupe?

Since 2004, John Curtin has been helping a Kenyan Maasai community by bringing a troupe of Warriors to perform in the UK yearly. Money from the performances covers tour expenses and goes to the Warriors and their families, UK venues and UK tour organisers.
The tour dates for 2011 can be seen here.

How are the Charity and Warriors connected?

In the words of Tajeu Minisa, the Warriors' leader:
"The tour is for our families, the Charity for our community."

The Masai charity was set-up to help relieve the effects of poverty in the Osiligi Warriors' community and in the wider Maasai area. The Charity is separate from the Warriors' tour, but works closely with the Warriors to identify and resolve community needs.

All money given to the charity goes to support these community projects.

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 to the charity 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.


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About Osiligi Charity Projects Osiligi - the Maasai word for 'hope'. Who are we? A UK charity, helping Africa help itself. Working in the Maasai areas of Kenya to help relieve poverty. What do we do? Education Health Sustainable employment We are: - Building a primary school to give an excellent education. - Sponsoring children who are orphans or whose parents are too poor to support an education. - Providing clean water for the community. - Introducing solar lamps and solar cookers to replace harmful kerosene lamps, fumes and smoke. -Making loans to a Women's Group for business start-ups. The project page gives more 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 in the Maasai areas? The Maasai are one of the poorest tribes in Kenya. Life is hard, infant mortality high and drinking water rarely clean or close-by. Maasai people on average live to less than 50, less than the rest of Kenya and much less than the UK. The Maasai lifestyle is one of the oldest surviving tribal traditions. In the past, 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. The climate is changing and in 2008 and 2009 there were very bad droughts. 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. They want schools and a good education for their children in order to have Masai doctors, engineers and teachers. What about the culture? Our projects respect Maasai culture and are done at the request of the community elders. Some initiatives involve a change to lifestyle, i.e. replacing fume producing kerosene lamps with clean solar lamps, but these are only done where there are health improvements. As a charity with limited money, we work on the projects that have the biggest impact for the available money. All the projects are targeted to help Africa help itself. Who are the Osiligi Warriors troupe? Since 2004, John Curtin has been helping a Kenyan Maasai community by bringing a troupe of Warriors to perform in the UK yearly. Money from the performances covers tour expenses and goes to the Warriors and their families, UK venues and UK tour organisers. The tour dates for 2011 can be seen here. How are the Charity and Warriors connected? In the words of Tajeu Minisa, the Warriors' leader: "The tour is for our families, the Charity for our community." The Masai charity was set-up to help relieve the effects of poverty in the Osiligi Warriors' community and in the wider Maasai area. The Charity is separate from the Warriors' tour, but works closely with the Warriors to identify and resolve community needs. All money given to the charity goes to support these community projects. 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 to the charity 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. See the 2010 accounts and trustees report for more details.					Latest: Maasai Warriors leader Tajeu with his wife Peninah Two of our sponsored orphans The land where we are building the new school Follow us on Facebook or twitter for all the latest news, photos, videos etc. Click 'like' from your facebook account or follow from twitter.
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	Osiligi Charity Projects is a charity registered in England and Wales, number 1135331

About Osiligi Charity Projects

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