Maasai Mara Programs

Volunteering in the Maasai Mara will give you a true and authentic experience of living amongst the natives.

Stay on land next to an animal reserve with comfortable shared rooms separate from the dining area. You will be hosted by one of the most respected and beloved members of the community, Mrs. Mara Mercy. Witness the wildlife (giraffes, elephants, zebras) on your drive in and on the hills behind the property. The sunburnt African sunsets over the Mara are something not to be missed. Spend the evening around the campfire under the Milky Way. Delicious and fresh meals are prepared on site with vegetarian options available. There are camp style showers and manual flushing toilets. This is an enclosed and protected property.

Maasai Women’s Empowerment Program

Quick overview

Maasai women are doing it for themselves, but they can use your help to continue their goal of educating their daughters and feeding their families.

Join Maasai village mothers and grandmothers as they pave the way, one bead at a time, for the next generation of girls who want to have opportunities besides marriage and motherhood at a young age. Enhance the collective resolution to reduce poverty, hunger and educational disparities for women and girls with your expertise and hard work!

Description

In the Women’s Empowerment Center, we are working with groups of women to help them be recognized as an independent, income-earning group; increase their family well-being; provide diversified sources of income; and improve their communication and business skills to increase their influence over community decisions. The center provides a place for women to come together to support each other, help in daily chores and learn (reading, writing, arithmetic, Swahili and English).

What is my schedule like?

  • Breakfast at the residence.
  • Make your way to an assigned manyatta site with Maasai women and get to learn their way of life.
  • Have lunch at the residence.
  • Afternoons can be flexible, either joining women’s groups for beadwork, visiting a local market, milking goats and cows, doing independent planning for the next day or visiting local sites.
  • Dinner at the residence.

NOTE: Some days will be busier than others, but there will always be something to do and things to learn along the way.

Requirements

  • A 2-week committed stay is required.
  • The government’s guidelines for visas and vaccines must be followed.

What can I expect to do?

  • Build or repair a traditional Maasai house, a manyatta, for a local family.
  • Join the women in their afternoon classes (3 times per week), where you can participate in teaching general education, empowerment talk or bring your special skill to teach.
  • Learn how to make traditional Maasai jewelry using their beadwork, which will help them create more income.
  • Local cooking lesson.

Recommendations

Bring good walking and working shoes, clothes you’re willing to get dirty and that are comfortable to work in, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent. Casual dress is appropriate. However, no see-through clothes, bare shoulders, low cut tops or shorts/skirts/dresses above the knee are permitted.

Please be advised that this is an extremely remote location and there are very minimal amenities available once you arrive. You may want to bring anything you might need with you to the program and plan to have an open heart and mind to fully enjoy this truly amazing experience.

Possible Optional Activities

  • Local school visit on Wednesday (extra transport cost)
  • Safari in the Maasai Mara (extra cost)
  • Guided trekking (extra cost)
  • Sunday church service
  • Local outdoor market visit
  • Tree donation and planting (extra cost)
  • Gardening afternoon
  • Milking a cow

Weekly Contribution

36,000 KSH (300USD/EU) or 72,000 KSH (600USD/EU)
(for the two week minimum)

What’s Included

  • 13 nights accommodation (from Sunday to Saturday)
  • 3 meals a day for 12 days, 2 meals on arrival day and breakfast on the last day
  • Nairobi airport pick up at 10am on Sundays (for departure we will help you coordinate the transportation to your next destination or drop off at Nairobi Airport)
  • One orientation afternoon (town tour)
  • Swahili basics and introductory lesson to Kenyan and Maasai culture
  • 24/7 local support
  • Bottled drinking water
  • Monetary contribution to support the local women’s activities
  • Lots of laughter and a couple of tears

Is there anything else I can bring with me as a donation for the community?

  • Flash cards to help with the teaching (1-3 grade English and math)
  • Soccer balls
  • English phonics reading books
  • Jump ropes
  • Bubbles
  • Any of your childhood favorite games to learn
  • Any creative way you want to engage (ex: nail polish and lipsticks kits to do a beauty day, music, art)

Please contact us to build your perfect volunteer adventure. You can stay in one place or visit all 3 locations. You won’t want to miss the experience of a lifetime.

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Please be advised that we do our best to provide a clear and manageable schedule for all persons joining the DGF programs. However, sometimes unforeseen circumstances beyond our control may require certain changes. These may include, but are not limited to, weather, political events, health matters or other local conditions. If something like this occurs, we will do our best to provide as much notice as possible. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding in these situations.

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