The Inspiration
The Maasai are one of the few remaining tribes in Africa who continue to live by their culture and tradition. For the most part they continue to dress in their traditional clothes and live in the traditional mud and cow dung Manyatta. They are a proud and peaceful tribe who think only of their animals and who try to be happy no matter what difficulties they face
We don't want to change their way of life, we simply want to ease the hardship they face due to drought, the killer disease AIDS which is spreading rapidly amongst them, lack of basic education, lack of clean water and the lack of a basic healthcare system.
The People Involved
The Light of Maasai was founded by a group of four people, three Maasai and one "musungu"
(Irish NGO worker Elaine Bannon)
These Maasai are from Rombo and this gives them a unique insight into the problems to be faced in a changing world by the Maasai who predominately remain un-educated. They recognized the need to improve the standard of living of the Maasai people and the enormous difference being educated can make to a person's life.
Together these four people had a vision where the Maasai will continue with their traditions and culture, but with the help of willing sponsors, suffer less hardship. Their greatest wish was to see a day when no woman will have to walk 20 or 30 km for water every day and where girls can start school at the age of 4 or 5 years happy, in the knowledge that they will not be removed from school at the age of 13 or 14 years to be circumcised and married. We wish that children won't have to walk more than 3 or 4 km to school and will be educated to a level that will allow them to achieve employment later in life.
While some of the group no longer play an active daily role in the running of the program they all remain dedicated to the ideals set out when they first got together
About Elaine Bannon
Elaine Bannon is originally from Dublin, Ireland. She left her job and comfortable lifestyle to live and work in Rombo, Kenya as an unpaid NGO worker (non governmental organisation) in 2002.
Elaine was already very aware of the plight of the African people but only when she first visited Kenya and witnessed the extreme poverty for herself did she decide to try and help by joining the Maasai community. Four years later by working with the local Maasai men and women, Elaine has adapted to her role as teacher, project manager, builder and doctor. Elaine has been heavily involved in fundraising and subsequently building small schools, medical clinics and water wells.
There are 2 major achievements in Elaine's life:
• In 2005 Elaine became a Paul Harris Fellow*. This recognition for the work she has done in Rombo has benefited all those involved in the Light of Maasai project as it has raised awareness and encouraged Rotarians to become involved.
• In 2010 Elaine was awarded with the Order of the Grand Warrior. This is the highest honour the President of Kenya can give for humanitarian endeavour and one of only a few non-Kenyan to be given this honour.
*An award given by the Rotary Foundation (www.rotary.org) in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world. To find out more about what the Rotary Foundation has contributed to the Light of Maasai see our 'How Others Have Helped' section