The Maasai Girls

The Maasai Girls Education Fund was created to improve the literacy, health and economic well-being of Maasai women in Kenya and their families through education of girls and their communities.

We provide scholarships from primary school through university to girls who have never enrolled in school, or who would be forced to drop out of school for cultural or economic reasons, and we are committed to each student until they have the knowledge and skills needed to enter the workforce in Kenya.  With economic empowerment, this new generation of Maasai women will end early marriages and circumcision of girls and bring greater literacy, health, and economic well being to future generations.
We also organize community workshops to address the social customs and cultural beliefs that prevent girls from getting an education

The Maasai Girls Education Fund (MGEF) is a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in the District of Columbia.  We were founded in 2000 to increase the literacy, health, and economic well-being of Maasai women in Kenya.  At that time, less than 20 percent of Maasai women had ever enrolled in school.  In 2003, Kenya instituted free public primary school education, and enrollment now has increased to 48 percent for girls.  However, only 5 percent of those who enroll will make it to secondary school primarily because of forced marriages, but also because of teen pregnancy, circumcision (female genital mutilation), or HIV/AIDS. MGEF is working to get more girls in school by offering scholarships to those who would otherwise not be able to get an education, and we are dedicated to keeping them in school until they have the knowledge and skills to enter the workforce in Kenya.

Why Maasai Girls

The great strength of the Maasai Girls Education Fund is the engagement of the Maasai community. MGEF believes that the only way to overcome the economic, social, and cultural factors that prevent girls from getting an education is to work on-the-ground with the community. MGEF has included the community in every aspect of its development. From the beginning, women’s advocacy groups, educators, local government officials, chiefs, and parents were consulted to ensure that all perspectives and opinions were considered, and that our work is appropriate to the culture and accepted by its people.

Mission Statement

The Maasai Girls Education Fund was created to improve the literacy, health and economic well-being of Maasai women in Kenya and their families through education of girls and their communities.
MGEF provides scholarships from primary school through university to girls who have never enrolled in school, or who would be forced to drop out of school for cultural or economic reasons, and we are committed to each student until they have the knowledge and skills needed to enter the workforce in Kenya.  With economic empowerment, this new generation of Maasai women will end early marriages and circumcision of girls and bring greater literacy, health, and economic well being to future generations.

MGEF also organizes community workshops to address the social customs and cultural beliefs that prevent girls from getting an education.

MGEF works in partnership with the Maasai community, including local area chiefs and women advocates for education of girls, to achieve its mission.

Goals

MGEF’s goals are to increase enrollment of Maasai girls in Kenya, reduce the dropout rate, and support every student until they have the knowledge and skills to enter the workforce in Kenya.  Our work involves a long-term commitment to each of our students.  Our success is measured by how many scholarship students complete their education and are prepared for a job in Kenya.

The Maasai Girls Education Fund (MGEF) works in Kenya’s Kajiado County, where two-thirds of Kenya’s Maasai population lives.  Currently, only 48 percent of Maasai girls in this region are enrolled in school.  Only 5 percent of those who enroll make it to secondary school.

How You Can Help

There are many ways to contribute.  A donation to the General Scholarship Fund will help MGEF respond to urgent need, such as intervening in the marriage of a young Maasai girl who would have to drop out of school, or ensuring that an AIDS orphan stays in school, or provide school fees for a student who has to drop out of school because a prolonged drought destroys her chances of finishing her education.  A small donation will buy shoes, a uniform, or supplies for a student, or pay tuition for a needy girl to go to school. Contributions for MGEF workshops support our community education projects to reduce teen pregnancy, early marriage, FGM, and the spread of HIV.  Sponsorship ensures that a Maasai girl will be able to complete her education and achieve economic independence.

MGEF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. For more information, please contact Zara Bott-Goins, Executive Director at 1-202-237-0535 or at zbottgoins@maasaigirlseducation.org

Sponsor a Girl

Sponsorship is a long-term commitment to the complete education of a student.  If you are interested in making this commitment, please contact Zara Bott-Goins and we will work with you to select a student.

Give to the General Scholarship Fund

The General Scholarship Fund is a pool of donations dedicated to scholarships for Maasai girls who would otherwise not be able to go to school. This allows MGEF to offer scholarships to students without having to have an individual sponsor.  Nearly half of MGEF’s student scholarships are funded through the General Scholarship Fund.

Read more about the General Scholarship Fund

Help Fund a Workshop

With numerous requests from members of the community, we are now organizing separate workshops for men, women, girls, and boys, as each has a role to play in ending the practices that prevent girls from getting an education.