Educating Children, Young Widows & Preventing Female Genital Mutilation - Kenya
Maji Moto / Enkiteng Lepa School: Maasai Mara National Reserve
WHAT THEY DO
In traditional Maasai culture, women do not have a right to own property and teenage widows with children are often left behind when a husband dies, leaving them with no home or means to live. While circumcision is officially prohibited by the Kenyan government, many Maasai continue the practice as part of their culture and rite of passage for girls.
Enkiteng Lepa School
Maji Moto rescues girls from early marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) and provides safe boarding and education for them at the Enkiteng Lepa School. Early on, Hellen Nkuraiya, the founder of Enkiteng Lepa, had a passion to eliminate harmful practices for girls and women, while maintaining cultural values, ceremonies and traditions. In the Maasai culture, young women are often married to older men, increasing the likelihood of being widowed.
A Widow's Village
In 2007 Enkiteng Lepa established a widows’ village on the grounds belonging to Salaton Ole Ntutu to address these issues. In the widows village, women can peacefully live and find ways to work. Maji Moto creates a balance between eradicating traditions that exploit girls and women while preserving precious Maasai culture and heritage. Today the community has come together to improve health, education and ensure a sustainable livelihood for all.
WHAT THEY DO
In traditional Maasai culture, women do not have a right to own property and teenage widows with children are often left behind when a husband dies, leaving them with no home or means to live. While circumcision is officially prohibited by the Kenyan government, many Maasai continue the practice as part of their culture and rite of passage for girls.
Enkiteng Lepa School
Maji Moto rescues girls from early marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) and provides safe boarding and education for them at the Enkiteng Lepa School. Early on, Hellen Nkuraiya, the founder of Enkiteng Lepa, had a passion to eliminate harmful practices for girls and women, while maintaining cultural values, ceremonies and traditions. In the Maasai culture, young women are often married to older men, increasing the likelihood of being widowed.
A Widow's Village
In 2007 Enkiteng Lepa established a widows’ village on the grounds belonging to Salaton Ole Ntutu to address these issues. In the widows village, women can peacefully live and find ways to work. Maji Moto creates a balance between eradicating traditions that exploit girls and women while preserving precious Maasai culture and heritage. Today the community has come together to improve health, education and ensure a sustainable livelihood for all.
In Partnership
GOALS & OBJECTIVES
The focus of GoPhilanthropic's support falls mainly within:
The focus of GoPhilanthropic's support falls mainly within:
- Sponsorship of girls and boys at the high performing, Enkiteng Lepa school.
- Raising the funds to complete the building of the boys dormitory. The dormitory is critical to the longer term vision for educating the boys alongside the girls and encourages support within the community.