Meet Simon Emmanuel

I am Simon Emmanuel, born in Orkeeswa village, Monduli. My father has three wives and twelve children.  My mother was his second wife and had three children. I am the first born. In 2012, my mother passed away and I continued to be raised by my Stepmother. I went to Orkeeswa Secondary School and I graduated in 2012 after completing my A’levels (equivalent to 12th Grade in the US).  Simon decided to set up a Community Group called Nadumu Maasai Women’s Organization @nmw.organization.  The project is in its infancy and started in 2021. ‘Nadumu’ is a Swahili word and loosely means ‘develop, maintain’.

Why did you start the project?

When I was growing up I witnessed the daily challenges that women in my community face, especially my mother.  She worked very hard to support her family because my father didn’t take care of us.  She did not own any property. She had no rights, including decision making and no voice within the family. I have also seen abuse against women in our community including beating, early marriage, forced marriage and FGM.  When I was young, I had a dream that one day I will work to support my community so I can bring back the lost happiness of our women, through improving the living standards of those who live a vulnerable life, as well as more equality and freedom for women.

What are the long-term goals of the project?

NMW would like to support women in all seven villages in the community (up to 1,000 women).

What are the focus areas of the project?

• Education
• Health
• Leadership
• Innovation
• Environment
• Improvement in standard of living

Who can join the project?

The project has been set up to support women who have the highest level of need.  Members include widows, women who are raising their children alone and those who face significant challenges at home. Currently, there are 41 women in the group.

What has NMW group achieved so far?

• Made beaded table mats for Lion King guests, providing a small income for all the women
• Provided guidance on how to invest the money for longer term benefit e.g. rearing chickens for sale of eggs
• Setting up of VICOBA (Village Community Banking) for the group
• Provided sanitary pads to young women in three local community schools
• Provided pens to 2000 children
• Planted 1000 trees in the community (to try and reduce the devastating effects of soil erosion)

Working on Community projects together also provides a rare and valuable opportunity for the women to be together, share the ups and downs of life and problem solve together.

Information about NMW group member ‘Sinyati’.

Sinyati is 43 years old. She is the first wife of Saitoti. Her husband has two wives. Sinyati has ten children. She did not have an opportunity to go to school. Her normal daily activities include taking care of her children, collecting firewood for cooking, fetching water, maintaining her home (in Maasai culture the women are responsible for building and maintenance of the house) and subsistence farming (maize and soya beans). Sinyati was the first woman to join NMW and since then, she has been developing skills that help her to solve challenges in her personal life. She is also developing a better understanding of her rights. She is now receiving a small income from the sale of the table mats and has invested in some chickens. The chickens lay eggs which she can sell at the local market. This small income helps to provide basic needs for her and her children, including food, clothes, medicine and soap, without having to depend on her husband.