Stoves at the Center

It all started with stoves

For the first years of our Project, we developed stoves in new villages once the money was raised.  We are still doing that when we can, and now there are wonderful additional funding opportunities coming to us, like the ones described below.  

While in the villages with the stove work, we saw the many additional problems the people were facing. Finding solutions and ways to help led to growth into other sectors, such as water sanitation.

Very important to us now are addressing problems caused by changing and unpredictable weather. The impact of global climate change is very severe in rural, rain-dependent areas like ours.

Enjoying a moment aloft with G-Adventures and the International Collaborative

Funding through Partnership

Our long-term partnership with G-Adventures Safari Company, is very good for many reasons.  Everyone benefits.

Their tourists take the main road from Arusha to the game parks.

Right on the way, without needing extra travel time, the tourists meet members of our Maasai Women's Installation Teams, watch them at work, participate if they wish, and talk with them about their lives, and how their lives are changing.

The tourists report that these experiences are very meaningful and moving for them. They appreciate an authentic taste of the life of the people--providing a window into a community working to make life better.  

We share the money G-Adventures provides us with the people of the village.  This covers the cost of the stove, the installers’ stipends, and a portion of staff costs.  

In high season, this can fund the installation of two stoves a day.  It is a great source of regular home improvement that the International Collaborative values greatly.  Thank you to G-Adventures!

Bringing bricks for stove chimneys to Olmoti Village

Collaborating to improve life in Olmoti Village

With its optimism and better life opportunities, Olmoti Village, is a special place. Located below the Kenyan border, it is just to the west of Mt. Kilimanjaro.  Olmoti is quite far from the usual pathways where interest in the rural economy is typically focused.  

Diane Raleigh helped to change that.  Through her generosity and leadership, she formed the Olmoti Project and developed a clinic, school, and healthy water resources.  This started the village on the way to a new, healthier life, especially for the children.  

It was exciting to see what our expertise in organizing, technology, and training could add.   After attending the new school or visiting the clinic, the people were then returning to homes that had all the problems of traditional Maasai housing.  The homes were dark and smoky.  The women were not developing an independent financial life to bring power and opportunity in the midst of their patriarchal society.

Through our collaboration, the Olmoti Project now funds our work in three sectors in the village.  There are 400 homes in total, and 150 already have stoves and good, durable solar systems.  We are hoping to improve them all.  

Our model for organizing women to share some of their money, strengthen their own businesses, and have a collective livestock fattening business, has transferred well to Olmoti.  There are now 50 women organized in two groups thriving in the new ways that mean so much to them.

We find this role, of adding our actions to arrive at a more complete life improvement, is especially rewarding for us.  Thank you to the Olmoti Project!

Completion is important

Word spreads and places needing improvement reveal themselves in the network of Maasai villages. We make a great effort to respond and broaden the area and impact of our work.

Ketubeine is a village in Longido district on the eastern slope of Ketubeine mountain, a huge and impressive volcano on the eastern edge of the Rift Valley.

Six years ago, a wonderful American family, that has lived in and worked with the village for decades, raised funds to bring stoves to the women.  We provided 100 stoves, trained a local women’s installation team, and successfully launched the home improvement work.

Somehow, the last 17 stoves weren’t immediately installed. The bricks we provided were exposed to the weather for too long. When the people were ready to put in the last fireboxes, there were no solid bricks left.

Last week we drove two hours across the beautiful land between Monduli and Ketubeine mountains. We brought two brickmakers, a brick-making machine, and supplies for 2000 bricks. Together with the International Collaborative, the Stove iInstallers of Ketubeine are now completing the improvement of 17 more homes.

Life improvement goes forward in many ways--large and small

For health and conservation, stoves remain at the center of our work.

 Right here, on the ground, it brings a lot of joy to find that we can do it together.

Taking action today!