Jonathan has safely arrived for his second trip to America! This time however, following the huge success of his last trip in November 2015, he has brought with him friend and fellow MAYOO member John Dackson Ole Lekoiya with him.

The Maasai duo will stay in America for a month to fundraise to build a new water pipeline to the Olosho-oibor village.

The Dominguez family welcome Jonathan and Dackson.

Jonathan and John spoke to the University of San Diego. At this event they focused on another project of MAYOO; to protect young girls from FGM and early marriage.  They told the audience of the problems caused by gender inequalities. Even though it is a very hard problem to overcome, they were also able to show their successes.  MAYOO has built a safe house that keeps 80 girls safe whilst providing them with food, accommodation, clothing and education. It is an incredible achievement but it is not finished yet! Events like these raise vital funds that keep the safe house operating whilst also teaching people from all over the world about the serious problem of gender inequalities.

Jonathan taught the students of Albert Einstein Academies about Maasai culture and the problems that face the community of Olosh-oiboor because of their lack of a reliable water source.

The fantastic children at AEA also helped sell Maasai Jewellery. All the money made goes to MAYOO’s support for widows in the community and to continue our help and protection of the girls in the safe house.

Jonathan and John spent many hours and days in both the elementary and middle school classrooms at AEA, sharing with students about the Maasai culture and it’s people. Students learned about the lack of access to clean water. The students asked excellent questions and became knowledgeable about the Maasai.

March 18^th was the Walk for Water day! With the Albert Einstein Academy, students continued to raise awareness of water access by walking three miles, at points experiencing what it is like for the Maasai to walk whilst carrying the heavy burden of water containers.

In the morning Jonathan and John performed a ceremonial Maasai dance to kick off the the Walk for Water day. The students loved watching the dance and were impressed at how high they could jump. Some even joined in!

The students all wore a T-shirt they designed for the walk with something blue. These Walk for Water t-shirts were sold to the learning community and all the profits went to the MAYOO Water Project.

The efforts of AEA students and parents to raise both awareness and funds was inspirational and a great success. Students took action and made posters, created donation jars, sold t-shirts and collected money before and after school and even ran a lemonade stand!  The combined efforts of the students, with the support and guidance of their amazing teachers and parents, helped us to meet and exceed our water project goal. Our goal was $2,200, but we raised an $2,700! Extra funds raised will go to the purchase of beds for the MAYOO safe house for girls.

“While the AEA community has given to our community, they have given us as much and more! As we have taught about Maasai life, they have taught us and blessed us with new friends. We are especially grateful for opportunity to develop intercultural understandings between the Maasai of Kenya and the learning community in San Diego. The experience of MAYOO and the Albert Einstein Academies has helped students, teachers and parents to recognise our common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet and each other, helping to create a better and more peaceful world.  Ashe Oleng”

Jonathan Saoyo Simel