Learning Together:Learning Together:Bringing Maasai core Bringing Maasai core

values into British values into British schoolsschools

Gemma BurfordGemma BurfordCo-Founder & International Liaison, Co-Founder & International Liaison,

Noonkodin Secondary SchoolNoonkodin Secondary School

Emaiyan – BlessingEmaiyan – Blessing (A (A sense of sacredness)sense of sacredness)

Maasai remember Maasai remember Engai Engai the the Creator every dayCreator every day

Women make offerings of milk Women make offerings of milk All meetings start with All meetings start with

communal prayer communal prayer Important meetings held under Important meetings held under

a sacred tree, the a sacred tree, the oretetioreteti Pilgrimages to Ol Doinyo Pilgrimages to Ol Doinyo

L’Engai, the ‘Mountain of God’L’Engai, the ‘Mountain of God’ All communities have a spiritual All communities have a spiritual

leader, the leader, the oloibonioloiboni

EnaboishuEnaboishu – Oneness– Oneness (We (We AREARE one family!) one family!)

Young men aren’t allowed to Young men aren’t allowed to eat meat, drink milk or even eat meat, drink milk or even take a bath alone!take a bath alone!

Elders & children are treasured Elders & children are treasured Children eat wherever they’re Children eat wherever they’re

hungry and sleep wherever hungry and sleep wherever they’re tiredthey’re tired

Everyone contributes to Everyone contributes to community festivalscommunity festivals

Everyone works together in Everyone works together in building new houses, searching building new houses, searching for lost cattle and growing foodfor lost cattle and growing food

Eserian – HarmonyEserian – Harmony (A (A place of peace)place of peace)

Peace means a good Peace means a good relationship between people, relationship between people, livestock and wild animalslivestock and wild animals

Maasai live alongside wild Maasai live alongside wild animals, and kill them only animals, and kill them only when they are a direct threatwhen they are a direct threat

Human beings are not separate Human beings are not separate from `the environment’, but part from `the environment’, but part of itof it

Forest retreat site (Forest retreat site (orpulorpul) is a ) is a place to restore your `warrior place to restore your `warrior spirit’ and healthspirit’ and health

Emorata – InitiationEmorata – Initiation (Taking responsibility)(Taking responsibility)

Clear line between childhood Clear line between childhood and adulthoodand adulthood

Facing challenges and proving Facing challenges and proving yourself to your eldersyourself to your elders

‘‘Washed clean’: new clothes, Washed clean’: new clothes, new greetings, new roles and new greetings, new roles and responsibilitiesresponsibilities

Everyone around you Everyone around you recognises you as an adultrecognises you as an adult

Learning secrets of married lifeLearning secrets of married life A commitment to serve societyA commitment to serve society

Modified Rites of Modified Rites of PassagePassage

Traditionally, girls undergo Traditionally, girls undergo female genital mutilation/cutting female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/FGC) between the ages (FGM/FGC) between the ages of 12 and 18of 12 and 18

This can cause serious health This can cause serious health problems and even deathproblems and even death

Our organization has helped to Our organization has helped to mobilise grassroots activists in mobilise grassroots activists in a campaign to modify the a campaign to modify the female initiation ceremonyfemale initiation ceremony

This involved eight villagesThis involved eight villages Now girls can be initiated Now girls can be initiated

without being cutwithout being cut

Osingolio – SongOsingolio – Song (Passing on the tradition)(Passing on the tradition)

An oral, not a written, traditionAn oral, not a written, tradition Songs and stories are the Songs and stories are the

community’s `libraries’community’s `libraries’ Elders tell stories to children Elders tell stories to children

around the firearound the fire Stories of ancient heroes are Stories of ancient heroes are

used to teach values and moral used to teach values and moral behaviourbehaviour

Dance is used to express Dance is used to express affection and strengthen affection and strengthen community bondscommunity bonds

ChallengesChallenges Broadening the concept of ‘unity’ beyond Broadening the concept of ‘unity’ beyond

the tribe, to the nation and the whole the tribe, to the nation and the whole worldworld

Protecting land and cattleProtecting land and cattle Impact of climate change on agricultureImpact of climate change on agriculture Getting enough clean waterGetting enough clean water Balancing traditional and modern Balancing traditional and modern

educationeducation Cash economy and rural-urban migrationCash economy and rural-urban migration

Noonkodin Secondary Noonkodin Secondary SchoolSchool

If it’s not brick, it’s not If it’s not brick, it’s not a classrooma classroom

P.S. If you don’t wear uniform, P.S. If you don’t wear uniform, you’re not a secondary school you’re not a secondary school

pupil!pupil!

2005: A Secondary 2005: A Secondary School is bornSchool is born

2006: 30 ‘refugees’ 2006: 30 ‘refugees’ from FGM from FGM

and forced marriageand forced marriage

Temporary housing Temporary housing was needed…fastwas needed…fast

2007: The struggle for 2007: The struggle for a permanent dorma permanent dorm

2008: A proud 2008: A proud graduate and his graduate and his

familyfamily

School Partnerships School Partnerships emergeemerge

What makes What makes Noonkodin unique?Noonkodin unique?

Focus on values and sustainable Focus on values and sustainable development development

Unity in Diversity Project:Unity in Diversity Project:- Students learn from elders about local Students learn from elders about local

cultureculture- Generation gaps are bridgedGeneration gaps are bridged- Traditions are documented and preservedTraditions are documented and preserved- Stereotypes are broken downStereotypes are broken down- Research into medicinal plants provides Research into medicinal plants provides

potential for income-generating activitiespotential for income-generating activities

Priority needsPriority needs New water harvesting tank (£2,000)New water harvesting tank (£2,000) An emergency vehicle to get students An emergency vehicle to get students

and staff to hospital quickly if they and staff to hospital quickly if they become acutely ill or are seriously become acutely ill or are seriously injured (£7,000)injured (£7,000)

Completing the second wing of the girls’ Completing the second wing of the girls’ dormitory (£6,500)dormitory (£6,500)

Staff training and professional Staff training and professional developmentdevelopment

Scholarships for 20 low-income studentsScholarships for 20 low-income students

What can £90 do?What can £90 do? Sponsor a day student for nine monthsSponsor a day student for nine months

OROR Buy a metal-framed bunk bed for the Buy a metal-framed bunk bed for the

dorm, together with two mattressesdorm, together with two mattresses

OROR Buy 60 text books and 60 pensBuy 60 text books and 60 pens

OROR Cultivate an acre of land to produce Cultivate an acre of land to produce

organic maize and beansorganic maize and beans

www.serianuk.orgwww.serianuk.org.uk.uk

Thanks for Thanks for listening!listening!info@serianuk.org.ukinfo@serianuk.org.uk