Greetings!
With the help of supporters throughout America, and with the increasing participation of organizations on the ground in Tanzania, we are especially grateful for this year’s progress.
As the world goes through difficult times and adjustments, our commitment and dedication to good work never changes.
Join us as we take stock of some of our programs and what's happened in the last eleven years—and consider the many challenges--and opportunities ahead. View our history and a detailed timeline here.
At the end of this newsletter are two brand new programs with exciting opportunities to continue to address the on-the -ground challenges of today. I invite you to contact me personally with your interest.
The entire Project community joins me in thanking you for your steadfast interest and participation.
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Maasai Stoves & Solar--Then and Now |
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Stoves
Providing smoke-removing and wood and labor-saving stoves is good for health, while also mitigating climate change and environmental degradation. Our colleague, Robert Van Buskirk first brought this idea to us eleven years ago, inspiring the first Maasai Stoves & Solar Project initiative.
Then-Working with the design input of the Maasai women of Eluwai, the Project developed and tested stove and chimney prototypes. Installation of the stoves took place in Eluwai in 2011 in the homes of100 women.
Now- Today, ICSEE stove installations and electric system installations reach 4210 homes across 19 villages. Two more villages will join in over the next few weeks, supported by a new collaboration with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency.
Opportunity -.With women in 80 villages in Monduli and Longido districts waiting for these improvements, as soon as additional funds become available we are ready to bring this technology to them, while continuing to make ongoing design improvements.
Solar micro-grid electrification
Then – Beginning in 2014 the Project began work with settlement-wide micro-grids, in addition to installing single home solar systems. The first micro-grid was installed in the Lobulu boma in the village of Esilalai. Funded by USAID, Project Manager Kisioki Moitiko traveled for intensive solar training at Solar Energy International in Paonia Colorado. View a video from our history below.
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Now-Today, there are 46 bomas (family settlements) electrified with micro-grids. Trained by Bob and Kisioki, today a large team of Maasai women and men provide installation expertise. It is remarkable to see the bomas lit at night, and the improved health, safety, and opportunities that electrification brings.
Opportunity-The people appreciate the micro-grid installations. They especially like their durability and reliability. As with the stoves, the demand is widespread, and all boma owners are ready to provide their share of costs.
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Women’s empowerment at the core
Then – With the initial Project design work in 2009, Maasai women have been at the center of this work. Starting with 14 stove installers in the three villages of Monduli Juu, expert women continue to train women in every new ICSEE Project village.
In 2013 the Monduli Pastoralist Women’s Organization (MPWO) started with 100 stove-installing women as members. In 2018, in collaboration with the Global Fund for Widows, Cypress Hill Manager Mesha Singolyo organized 75 women in three villages, launching livestock businesses with shared finances from the collective banks they initiated.
Now - Maasai women help each other and have intense small social groups. The MPWO now has 220 members across 19 villages. They are all members of the Stove Installation Teams. The group shares a cattle business, selling bulls into the meat production value chain. There are eleven widows’ groups now, totaling 275 members. So far, the widows have profitably sold 760 goats and will soon switch to cattle.
Opportunity-With the help of extraordinary community leaders, these groups are not only growing and prospering, but their influence continues to spread. Independently and in collaboration with the Global Fund for Widows, ICSEE is working to expand this powerful development to more women.
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Livestock
Then – 2016 brought serious drought to Maasai lands and many cattle died. With the help of a committed and generous donor, in 2017, we constructed the Manyara feedlot on eleven acres in the Rift Valley. We aimed to address the use of alternative food sources and demonstrate livestock practices to adapt to the effects of climate change.
Now- The feedlot serves up to 200 cows at a time. In time of grass shortage, herders bring cows to the feedlot for three months of care to retain their value and vitality. In addition, our Fodder Factory turns industrial waste into good nutrition for livestock, with the first 450 bags already produced and sold.
Opportunity-Creative ideas and shared effort will continue to be necessary as pastoralists adapt their practices and economy to changing conditions. ICSEE will remain a part of this, learning from others and providing what we can to help the people live better in the face of these challenges.
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Cypress Hill Community Center
Then – ICSEE opened Cypress Hill in 2017, envisioning an incubator and training center. We made many facility improvements, preparing a 1600-volume library, computer center, restaurant, and sports area. We held special workshops for women, village officers, and science teachers.
Now- We are currently developing programs to make this center truly valuable for the community, including students and teachers. The library offers books on many subjects, including those especially useful for secondary school teachers.
Opportunity-The campus includes a hostel that can comfortably sleep 24 students, making it well suited to house residential programs supporting important community needs. Read two exciting new proposals below.
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New Programs Proposed for Cypress Hill |
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Helping girls succeed
The challenge – During the four months between Primary and Secondary school, girls typically go back to their home villages. They frequently face sexual pressure during that time. Getting pregnant can mean the end of their opportunity to continue their education.
Meeting the challenge- Instead, ICSEE proposes to provide a residential bridging school at Cypress Hill. This means girls can come spend the four months between schools with good secondary school academic preparation and supportive counseling about their new lives as young women.
The opportunity - Cypress Hill is perfectly positioned to meet this challenge. We can provide the program for 24 girls during each inter-school interval. We would add sponsorship for the next four years of secondary school. The cost for both programs is remarkably low, but would transform lives. Would you like to be a part of this initiative? We invite you to get in touch directly.
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Community sports area at Cypress Hill |
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Addressing youth unemployment
The challenge – Young people coming out of the fourth year of Secondary School who do not continue to the upper grades need to find work. It is particularly difficult because that level of education does not provide them with the special skills that employers require.
Meeting the challenge-There are opportunities especially in the trades and construction, but experience is required. ICSEE will mount a series of short training courses.These provide the skills and confidence needed for success in entering the workforce. Our efforts will include placing each student in an initial entry-level helper job.
The opportunity - Young people can have access to plots of land. We will soon start with agricultural training to enable these young people to begin growing vegetables. We aim to help them learn how to grow profitably while using environmentally-sound principles. In addition, they will be providing good vegetables right in their local communities. Interested in supporting this work? Contact us.
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Thank you to Gina Foglia, Philip Lange,and Kisioki Moitiko for photography. |
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Support this award-winning work.
Making a real difference
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For a better life for rural Africans, and a cleaner environment for all
Office of Programs and Development
International Collaborative, Maasai Stoves & Solar Project
705 Americana Drive, Unit 5A
Annapolis, MD 21403 USA
1-508-735-9176
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