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A Maasai Women Group's Pursuit of Sustainable Jobs

October 03, 2022 2052 0

Their ages range from 18 to 80. They are drawn from several villages in the expansive Kajiado County, which is predominantly populated by the Maasai Community. They are known simply as Njoroi Women Group, named after the locality that they come from.

These women are seeking to infuse more sustainability and prosperity into their livelihoods. Only a handful of them - less than five- have high school education. None of them studied beyond high school. The majority are either primary school dropouts or illiterate. This educational status alone has undermined their employment prospects. They cannot fully resort to smallholder farming like women in other parts of Kenya because the Maasai culture has for long been pastoralist in nature, emphasizing more on rearing livestock than planting crops. 

Against this bleak economic backdrop, the women are now seeking sustainable livelihoods.

"We just want to be able to earn money on a regular basis so that we can ensure that our children get the education that we were not able to get," says Miriam their Chairlady.

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On 23rd July 2021, Environmental Africa's Leader DJ Bwakali visited Njoroi to discuss with the women group about an upcoming August field research trip. He met with Miriam, the Group's Leaders together with three other women and a local village elder. Also present was George, Environmental Africa's Kajiado County community coordinator.  

The Maasai are one of Africa's most iconic communities.

Environmental Africa is working closely with Njoroi Women Group to ensure that it unlocks Green Economy in the area. 

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Last modified on Monday, 03 October 2022 08:46
DJ Bwakali