There are various ways to take on development work.

Some agencies begin by identifying strong priorities, often resulting from their research efforts. The USAID and the World Bank are examples.

Another approach starts with a commitment to the solution of a problem related to a specific technology.

Staying focused on creating better cookstoves or solving water problems in some specific way typifies this orientation.

Another development style is built on the idea that a particular community, often considered an indigenous one, recognizes its own problems and has solutions coming from within--but the community needs help with implementation. 

We are well established in the community. Our staff and leaders are part of the community. We live our lives here. So right in front of us and perpetually, there are demonstrations of the many ways things could be better for the people.

There is no directive to work on all of the issues, but because of the close exposure, there is growing consciousness and concern about them. And this naturally sparks creativity and the energy to try new things.

The creative ideas, solutions, and approaches to the work can come from anywhere.

It is so gratifying to act as a catalyst, connecting community members to resources and imaginations of people around the world.

For example, the Project brought Kisioki to Colorado to study solar engineering to prepare to lead the boma-wide solar micro-grid work. While he was studying there, he traveled to Utah where he observed local cattle management techniques. This sparked his idea of Maasai cattle feedlots that led to our extensive work at Manyara and collaboration with The Nature Conservancy.

In my case, I knew chlorination was making my water drinkable where I lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts and almost everywhere else in the “developed” world. Why not in Maasai Land?

 I visited the city's state-of-the-art water treatment plant, spoke with the engineers and researched chlorination online.

This helped us imagine and design the pond-side water sanitation systems design that we have installed here, carefully adapted to the practices of the Maasai women who collect the water for their families each morning.

The expansion of the Maasai Stoves & Solar Project is a great source of pleasure—and an intellectual and practical adventure.

But no matter how many new things we try and made workable, at the heart of it all is a healthier home.

This connects us to our initial starting point.  We started with the home and we all carry the vision of a smoke-free, safer home.

In our first meeting in Eluwai village back in 2009, when I was first talking to the Maasai villagers and seeing their life, I asked the women:

“Yes,” they cried out. They had no idea how. They had never dreamed it was possible.

In addition to the simple value of a good stove for the Maasai home, the need for installation adds the tremendous value of organizing women as installers. Our focus on women began with stove installation.

Installers access training for new skills, opportunities to earn money, and coming together as a powerful organization. The Monduli Pastoralist Women’s Organization (MPWO) of 200 stove installers also owns and operates a successful cow fattening business.

We keep our ears to the ground, and our eyes wide open for potential collaborations and funding that will help bring stoves into more and more homes.

We are now at 4,900 with our Model Four stove.

Organizations concerned with wildlife, such as The Frankfort Zoological Society, The Serengeti National Park, and the World Wildlife Fund help us put stoves in the homes of people near the conservation areas and national parks. They know that when the people are doing better, the pressure on the conservation areas is reduced.

Some agencies, such as the Adventists Development and Relief Agency and the United Nations Development Program in Tanzania, focus their concerns for particular communities and realize our stove can help.

G-Adventures Travel Company brings their clients to meet and work with Maasai women installing our stoves. This can mean four stoves a week that they fund, during high tourist season. Thankfully, the company launched “vaccination “and “travel with confidence” tours and the tourists are returning. We are already hosting these groups and receiving the benefits.

Some folks have come to know particular villages during their travels, made special friends, and now provide funds to help the people living there to have healthier homes.

You count on us to use as many donated funds as possible to get stoves into more houses. And this trust inspires us.

With your help, and the support of many like-minded people and organizations, with this stove, more Maasai women and their children are living in healthier, safer homes. We are very grateful for your interest and support.