A Family Home

This is a picture of the inside of a Maasai’s traditional home. Food is prepared in the centre of the home and the sleeping area is at the sides of the firepit. With poverty so great within the Maasai community, underaged girls are given into marriage after going through the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) ceremony, usually by or before the age of 12 years old. The girls are married off for a dowry of cows, that help the family with food, and for trade for other family needs, and is a sign of wealth.

MDP has made it it’s mission to build a safe place for rescued and orphaned girls to live. Here they are given the opportunity to obtain an education. In return, the educated students go back to their communities and help to influence a healthier way of life in their families. When the students graduate, Maasai communities are proud of their children, and this helps to show the need of educating and keeping young girls safe.

MDPEC’s progressive programs, such as adult education classes in their own communities, food sharing during times of drought, Medical/Dental mission trips, reach many parts of Maasailand.