It has been an incredible first two weeks for MAYOO’s pioneering campaign in the United States. The outpouring of support and donations has exceeded far beyond our wildest dreams. We would like to give a big thank you to those of you who attended an event, helped raise awareness or donated to our cause. We have been truly blessed.

During Jonathan’s first week after adjusting to the cold northeast climate and 7 hour time change, Jonathan met with American sponsors to provide updates about the girls that have been supported through their contributions. We met with Marah Flemer, the Duffields, Steve Hayes and Doug Latham to provide letters, grade updates and photos to foster these budding relationships.

Jonathan with sponsor Steven Hayes outside a local breakfast joint

Following the first weeks meetings, Jonathan, Tristan and Steve had a busy week ahead giving talks at St. John’s Preparatory High School. The school was incredibly supportive and helpful in raising awareness of the issues facing the Maasai community. One of the most powerful aspects of the talks that the students enjoyed was the attempt at carrying a 20 liter water jug “like a Maasai” to demonstrate how difficult this daily task is and provide a greater appreciation for the impact the water piping project will have. We would like to thank St. Johns Prep for continuing to foster a positive environment where students are encouraged to combat inequality and learn about global issues.

Jonathan speaking to St. Johns Prep students

Tristan and Steve help load the water jug for a student demonstration

Jonathan takes a selfie with a student

On Thursday night a fundraiser soiree was held at the Hackett household with tremendous turnout. In what turned into a very interactive town hall type discussion, over 30 members of the local Ipswich community came by to hear Jonathan speak about the issues that MAYOO is helping to combat.  The event was a huge success resulting in the sponsorship of 9 girls in need! The Ipswich community also donated funds to help complete the water project which is now within reach. We want to thank those of you who attended the event for your incredible generosity and warm hearts.

Jonathan with Kristen (Left), Sponsor Marah (right) and Ryder, at the event!

Jewelry being sold at the event

Despite all of the recent generosity and positive outpouring of support there is still more work to be done. Next week MAYOO will be meeting with the new prospective sponsors so that they can meet the girls who will benefit from their incredible kindness. Also MAYOO will be going to New York City to meet with larger organizations with the hopes of creating a stronger American network of support.

Thank you all for reading and keeping up with our organization as it continues to grow.

Ashe Oleng!

MAYOO Founder Jonathan Simel is in the United States for the first time and is being hosted by former volunteers. Jonathan will be in the United States for a month, speaking at various schools, churches and community groups to raise awareness for the issues that face Maasai community.

When asked about his goals for the month long stay in the United States, he stated ” I hope to have the water project completed.” The water project, is the plan to pipe clean water to the village of Ingarooj, which relies mainly on collected rain water and 45 min walks to the closest tank. The fundraising project began with Tristan Hackett and Steve Pasinski’s efforts in February and have since been advanced by Kyle and Sherry Anderson, who have started a crowdfunding site (click here to visit) for the project, which is already halfway towards the goal! Jonathan hopes that by selling the jewelry he has brought from Maasailand that the project will be completed.

Tristan and Jonathan enjoy the fall foliage

Jonathan will be staying on the North Shore of Boston during his first two weeks in the United States with Tristan and Steve. They will be presenting on MAYOO at St. Johns Prep, Ipswich Public Schools, and private events to both raise awareness and funds for the cause. Then he will be taking a trip to visit New York in hopes of connecting with some larger organizations in the big city. Following his trip to the Big Apple Jonathan will be staying with Sherry Anderson and future volunteer Janet Biondi, who is planning to visit Jonathan in Ingarooj this coming winter. Jonathan is very excited to meet the new volunteers and is thrilled by their enthusiasm for the project.

Jonathan goes to the beach for the first time!

MAYOO is very thankful for the blessings of new friendships, volunteers and incredible hospitality. We hope that through continued efforts we can go on to achieve great things!

Ashe Oleng!

Earlier this month, Sherry Anderson, mother of former Volunteer Kyle Anderson began a crowdfunding page to raise money to pipe water in Ingarooj, Kenya. She became inspired when her son returned from Ingarooj and shared the stories of the kindness he received when staying with the Maasai. Sherry launched the crowdfunding page with hopes of raising $4,000 to bring clean water closer to the Maasai community.

Sherry and Kyle!

Water access is a major issue affecting the Maasai community as the nearest water sources are 45 minutes away and take much longer on the way back when carrying 20kg water jugs. The newly proposed project would pipe clean water from the nearest well (10km away) and create a new well that will be less than 1km away for more than 1,000 people. This new well would also serve an estimated 4,000 goats, 3,000 sheep and over 6,000 cattle!

Eunice carrying Moses and Water

On July 28 2010, the United Nations passed resolution 64/292 declaring that access to clean water and sanitation is a fundamental human right and is essential to the realization of all human rights. Through the continued positive efforts of Sherry and others like her MAYOO hopes that it can provide this essential human right to the Maasai in Ingarooj and help make their lives a little easier. MAYOO would like to thank Sherry and Kyle for the continued help and support of the Maasai community. We’re incredibly proud that their efforts have earned them an article in the local paper, and we hope that her positive activism inspires more people to help out. You can donate and share Sherry’s fundraising page here! Thank you again Sherry and Kyle for all your hard work we hope we can complete this project soon!

Thanks for visiting!

Ashe Oleng!

MAYOO was very fortunate to add another volunteer to its ranks last month with the arrival of Kyle Anderson. Kyle spent a month living with the Maasai in Ingarooj and aided the village in a number of different ways. Kyle is a 2015 graduate of Dickinson College and originally from Boston, Massachusetts. One week after graduation, Kyle set out for Ingarooj to start putting his education to good use. Earlier this week we were able to talk to Kyle about his experiences with MAYOO:

Joyce with Kyle, her new sponsor!

Thank you so much for letting us interview you Kyle!

What advice would you give to future volunteers about going to Ingarooj?

“As far as advice for future volunteers goes, I would say that it is very important to go with a completely open mind. No words or descriptions can describe to you the cultural differences you will see while in Ingarooj. People live and think differently, and you have to be accepting of that. It is a very severe transition from what non-Kenyans are used to, but once you start living like a Maasai, you will surely be happy.”

Hang out selfie with Jonathan

MAYOO thanks Kyle for his hard work and volunteering at MAYOO, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors!

MAYOO Founder Jonathan Simel returned from his successful UK visit earlier this month with some new connections, resources and future plans for the MAYOO program. Following his interview on Arise News in London, Jonathan was featured on BBC Norfolk’s morning radio show with Anthony Issacs.

Continuing his tour around the UK, Jonathan then ventured towards Manchester where he was reunited with previous MAYOO Volunteer Max Homan.

Jonathan and Max in IMAX glasses

Aside from enjoying his first 3D movie, Jonathan went on to give at the Amport Primary School, University of Manchester and a couple local hang outs such as Fallow Cafe and The Railway Pub. Max was so excited to be reunited with Jonathan. “It was incredible to see Jonathan again and not only that but I was able to host him and repay what he so generously and kindly did for me. I now have memories of us living and learning in the Kenyan bush and in England’s cities.”

Jonathan at the University of Manchester

Jonathan Selling Maasai Jewelry for MAYOO

After Jonathan’s Manchester success, it was time to return to London and meet up with Lulu Luckock and Kitty Wengraf. Due to their incredible efforts they were able to organize and host a fundraising event helping Jonathan and MAYOO get connected to more sponsors and help bring the organization into the spotlight. As a result of their collective efforts Jonathan was able to raise enough money to sponsor 7 more girls and an additional 92,000 KSH (1,020 USD) for the water project.

Jonathan’s trip to the UK was a monumental step forward for MAYOO, and the future looks bright for the budding organization. With the help of all the new friends Jonathan has made, MAYOO is currently looking into registering as a UK Charity, a process that will help solidify MAYO as an international organization. As Jonathan returns home from his first time abroad, he is very excited to be reunited with his wife Eunice, son Moses and daughter Milka, after their one month separation. However it may be something the family has to get used to, because something tells us that it won’t be his last time getting on a plane.

Thank you for your continued support!

If you are interested in sponsoring a girl or volunteering opportunities please contact us at maasaiyouth@yahoo.com

MAYOO founder and director Jonathan Saoyo Simel left for the UK last week in what was a monumental step forward for the MAYOO program, as well as a dream come true for Jonathan. After years of failed attempts to gain a visa, Jonathan finally received his visa in February and booked his flight for the UK on March 1st. When asked what he did when he first got his visa he replied “I yelled in the streets of Nairobi, people think I’m mad but I didn’t care because I got a visa.”

Jonathan taking a tour of London!

Jonathan will be staying in the UK until April 7th and plans to tour the country to raise awareness of the issues facing his community and hopes to fund raise money for MAYOO to combat the problems of FGM, child education and water access. Jonathan’s tour includes 4 stops, London, Manchester, Norwich and Winchester. Jonathan plans to speak at local universities and churches to help build support for MAYOO and share Maasai culture with with locals.

Thanks to the support of past volunteers and new friends, Jonathan will have hosts in every city to take him around and show him the ropes. MAYOO would like to thank the Lulu Luckock and the McNair Family for hosting Jonathan during his time in London. So far, Jonathan has visited two schools and had an official meeting with the All Saints Church in Fulham. In addition, Jonathan has had an interview with Arise News in London and was on their morning news television program. Which you can watch here!

Jonathan hopes that with the increased awareness from his touring of the UK, that he will be able to find the support he needs to combat the issues facing the Maasai community and with the help of his new found friends that future looks brighter and brighter, thanks to their kind hearts, and passionate enthusiasm!

Jonathan with his London Hosts!

Grace with Volunteers Steve (left), Tristan(right) and her Elder Sister

Our Volunteers after Shopping with Abigail, her Mother, and Cousin

Our Girls in Uniform!

Collecting School Supplies

Our Volunteers with the Girls and Matron

Inside Safehouse Dorm

Charity Laughing at Us

Thanks for checking in and all the continued support!

Special thanks to long-term sponsors, Binni and Randy Hackett, Julia and Doug Latham; plus the generosity of many others we were able to rescue these great girls this week!

JANE

Jane is a 14 year old whose father, a policeman, was tragically killed by terrorists near Somalia. Her mother could no longer afford to care for Jane, her two brothers and two sisters or send them to school and was forced to consider selling Jane into marriage. Luckily, she was put in touch with MAYOO who was able to find her a sponsor in the form of Doug and Julia Latham. Now she is extremely excited to be preparing for school and life at the safe house! You can meet Jane here.

Thanks to Mike Cuttler, Kayla Sossin, and Eric Schweizer for providing Jane’s shopping!

MARGARET

Margaret is 15 years old. Her father was attempting to circumcise her and sell her to marriage because he needed the money, in an attempt to save Margarets life, her mother ran away with the kids. Temporarily they reside at her grandmothers until they figure out a plan for the future. Thanks to my wonderful parents, Margaret is now able to complete her education and live independently at the safe house until she is old enough to make her own life. An aspiring lawyer and Man Utd fan, you can meet Margaret here.

Thanks to Polly and Flora Hackett for providing Margaret’s shopping!

CHARITY

Charity is a 13 year old orphan. Her mother tragically committed suicide last year after her husband abandoned the family and ran away to the UK. She is the sister of, Milka, who is the adopted rescue daughter of Jonathan and our close friend. So we were ecstatic to be able to set her up to attend school and live at the safe house. Charity loves cats and playing soccer.

Thanks to Helen Webb, Stella Chadwick, and Rose Temple for providing Charity’s shopping!

We brought the girls shopping for everything they would need to live independently at the safehouse this past weekend. After a very long day of bargaining and searching for girls items, that were way above the heads of us single Dads, we were confident that they had everything they would need in order to start their new lives. Many thanks to those of you who made it happen. You can see pictures of the experience here!

Tristan Hackett (22) and Steven Pasinski (23) from the Boston, Massachusets are currently making a big contribution by volunteering with MAYOO. They have been able to raise funds for 4 girls to be sponsored and therefore rescued from child marriage and female genital mutilation. In addition, they have helped by spreading awareness to raise funds to initiate the clean drinking water project for our community. With their continued help, Jonathan helps to eventually develop MAYOO into a fully functional school and safe-house for the Maasai youth.

As well as heping with MAYOO’s projects they have also been teaching in the local primary school and becoming great friends with the community. You can read about their work with MAYOO on their blog www.postgradperipatetic.wordpress.com.