"We need both ways of knowing the world, Indigenous and Western, because together they create a fuller, more meaningful picture of reality.” 
— Dr. Gregory Cajete, Tewa author and professor

A Maasai girl walks in two worlds. By day she wears a school uniform and studies literature and science. By evening, she returns to the traditions that have shaped her people for generations. Her formal education prepares her to navigate universities and technology. The wisdom of her ancestors teaches her to steward the land, strengthen her community, and understand who she is. We never want her to believe she must choose between the two.

Experience has taught us that girls' challenges are deeply intertwined. Upstream issues such as cultural norms; gendered land rights; and access — or not — to health care, safe water and menstrual supplies profoundly shape girls' lives and their ability to stay in school. Increasingly, we've also come to understand that agency is not built through access to formal education alone: Girls also need a tangible connection to their language, culture, and identity.

That's why, this summer, we are partnering with Maasai elders to create new opportunities for girls to participate in cultural education that has traditionally been reserved for boys and passed down through men. The wisdom of Maasai women also needs to be carried forward, and girls' perspectives also need to shape the culture. When girls and boys sit together to learn the values of Maasai life, ideas about equity begin to shift from within the culture itself — and are more likely to be truly lasting.  By learning to thrive in two worlds, girls develop a rare dual agency — and become bridges with the ability to thrive in both. 

All donations will be matched 100% up to $10,000 once again this summer thanks to several generous partners!