Love is not what you expect to get,
but what you are prepared to give. (Katharine Hepburn)
I have lost my heart to Tanzania. The country is rich in nature, beautiful beaches, different cultures and lovely people. Unfortunately, a large part of the population is threatened by poverty. Many people do not have enough money to go to the doctor, buy food, send their children to school or buy necessary school materials.
The Maasai, who traditionally live from livestock farming, are particularly affected. However, the land that has been available to them for centuries is increasingly being taken away from them, often in favor of investors or agricultural projects. As a result, the Maasai are losing their livelihood.
It is very important to me to help the Maasai to improve their situation. I collect clothes and toys and then bring them back to Tanzania. However, helping people to help themselves is particularly important. That's why I support Simon, my business partner and friend, with his organization's projects. Simon, himself a Maasai, knows the problems of his community and knows what needs to be done. It is important to me not to appear as an “all-knowing white benefactor”. Simon specifies how I can help, and I support with the means at my disposal. We also inform our customers about our projects and show them the villages and initiatives around Monduli on request.
Projekt EmpowerHer - Maasai Women and Girls
Welcome to the EmpowerHer project ! Our mission is to empower Maasai women and girls through education, health projects and economic independence. But a particularly central point in our work is protection from violence and the prevention of female genital mutilation (FGM) . We firmly believe that women and children play a key role in changing and protecting their culture . Only through this change from within can the Maasai community in Tanzania look to a better and self-determined future.
Origin of the project and goals
In the Maasai community in Tanzania, women and girls face many challenges that hinder their access to education, health and economic independence. In particular, the lack of access to hygienic menstrual products often leads to girls missing or dropping out of school. In addition, issues such as female genital mutilation (FGM), violence against women and the protection of women's rights are often little discussed.
The EmpowerHer project was started by Simon Molell, a Maasai from Monduli and founder of the NADUMU Maasai Women Organisation, in collaboration with Dr. Doris Pieber, gynecologist, and me, Silvia Resnik, entrepreneur and coach. Simon already initiated a successful project in 2023/24, in which 400 girls were equipped with reusable menstrual pads and cycle calendars. This enabled them to continue attending classes despite their menstruation.
With EmpowerHer, we are going one step further: our aim is not only to improve healthcare, but also to actively strengthen women's rights and prevent FGM and violence against women. In doing so, we focus on educating both women and men in order to bring about lasting change.
Women and girls play a key role in making a positive difference in their community. We want to support them to shape their own future and secure a better, healthier future for the entire Maasai community.
Our goal is to build trust and promote open dialogue within the Maasai community to empower them to address their challenges themselves and secure a better, healthier future for the entire community.
Our long-term goals: Promoting education and economic opportunities for women and girls: We are committed to ensuring that women and girls have access to education and sustainable economic opportunities so that they can lead more independent lives in the long term. Creating safe shelters for girls at risk of FGM: We want to create safe havens for girls at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM). Here they should find protection, a home and the opportunity to attend school. Strengthening Maasai initiatives to abolish FGM and violence against women: We promote dialogue and support the Maasai community in developing and implementing their own initiatives to combat violence and female genital mutilation in order to protect women's rights and strengthen their role in society. This way, sustainable solutions can be found.
Our short-term goals: Distribution of reusable menstrual products to women and girls including cycle calendars: We want to ensure that women and girls have access to reusable menstrual products to promote their health and reduce the number of school dropouts due to a lack of hygiene products. Workshops on women's health and family planning: In our workshops we provide education on important topics such as women's health, family planning and contraception to prevent early pregnancies and encourage girls to continue their education. We also want to gain the trust of the community to then discuss more sensitive topics such as FGM. Training to create economic opportunities for women: We conduct training to help women develop sustainable income opportunities and thus strengthen their economic independence.
The Maasai
The Maasai are a semi-nomadic tribe who are deeply rooted in nature and their traditions. Their culture is rich in values such as community, respect and sustainability - principles we can all learn from. As one of the most prominent ethnic groups in Africa, the Maasai have a long history that is strongly linked to their connection to the earth and their pastoralist tradition.
However, this unique cultural heritage is now facing major challenges. Climate change, government intervention and the use of their land are increasingly threatening the Maasai's way of life. Women in particular, who play a central role in the family and community, are often disadvantaged in areas such as education, healthcare and economic independence.
By supporting the Maasai, we are not only helping to preserve their culture and traditions, but also to find sustainable solutions for their livelihoods. This support is crucial to ensure that the Maasai can preserve their way of life for future generations. Empowering women and girls is particularly important here, as they play a key role in bringing about positive change in their communities.
The Maasai and NADUMU Maasai Women Organization
Simon Molell founded the Nadumu Maasai Women's Organization in 2021 with the firm aim of improving the lives of Maasai women and girls and empowering them. As a child, he witnessed the daily challenges faced by women in his community, especially his mother, who had no property or rights. Simon experienced the abuses women and girls endured - from violence and abuse to early and forced marriage and the horrific practice of female genital mutilation (FGM).
These formative experiences awakened in him a desire to make a difference. He dreamed of a future in which men and women have equal opportunities and rights, a future in which women can raise their voices and play an active role in the community. The Nadumu Maasai Women's Organization was created as a platform to realize this vision - to empower women, protect their rights and support them to lead self-determined and independent lives.
Our team
Simon Molell
Simon Molell is the founder of the Nadumu Maasai Women's Organization and heads the EmpowerHer project in Tanzania. As a Maasai from Monduli, he knows the challenges of his community inside out and is passionate about women's rights, education and protection against FGM. Simon coordinates implementation on the ground and ensures that sustainable solutions emerge from within the community.
Neema Sepuke
Neema Sepuke is an English teacher, women's rights activist and project manager of the EmpowerHer program in the Bagamoyo area. As one of the few divorced Maasai women, she has fought for her own independence and is now passionate about empowering women and girls in her community. Neema organizes workshops on women's health and economic independence and is an important voice for change on the ground.
Dr. Doris Pieber
Dr. Doris Pieber is an experienced and compassionate gynecologist from Graz with a deep passion for women's health and rights. She has already gained valuable experience in a health project in Kenya. For EmpowerHer, Doris not only contributes her medical knowledge, but also actively supports fundraising activities. She also plans to lead workshops on site on topics such as women's health, family planning and the prevention of FGM in order to empower women and promote sustainable change.
Silvia Resnik
Silvia Resnik is an entrepreneur, women's coach and deeply connected to the Maasai community. Her travels to Tanzania and life with the Maasai have had a lasting impact on her. Particularly impressed by their culture and sense of community, Silvia is keen to make a contribution that really makes a difference. As part of EmpowerHer, she is dedicated to fundraising, organizing and supporting workshops on site.
With your donation you can make a big difference!
With your support, you can make a lasting difference to the lives of Maasai women and children. We take this responsibility very seriously and manage the money with the utmost care.
Send me your email address and I will send you a report every six months showing you exactly how your donation was used and what progress the project has made. I will also regularly publish reports about the work on site on my blog so that you always know when something important is happening. It's best to sign up with your email address and don't miss a post!
Are you interested in working together or do you have any questions? Feel free to contact me!
Thank you for accompanying us on this important journey!