One of the beautiful, intricately beaded placemats I bought from the "Maasai Women Fair Trade Center" 
The "Simanjiro Maasai Women's Group" was also represented at the fair - I met the most dynamic young Tanzanian man representing them, his passion for what he does was contagious ! (Have a look at all the beautiful beadwork they had for sale)"Imagine you are born as a girl into the Maasai tribe. Imagine there being no money to be educated and if there is, having that money spent on your brother/s rather than on you, because you are worth more because you can be married off to someone (of your parent’s choosing) in exchange for livestock – the ultimate sign of wealth in the Maasai tribe.
Imagine that as a young girl going through puberty, you have to undergo a circumcision ceremony. Because if you are uncircumcised, you will not be as desirable a wife, nor will you fetch as high a price in livestock when you get married. Imagine having markings etched or burned into your face, to show that you are part of that tribe.
Imagine that you have to share your husband (who may be old enough to be your father or grandfather) with many other wives and bear him children year after year, as children are another sign of wealth. Imagine that if for some reason you cannot bear children (or stop having them) you will be returned – in shame – to your family.
Imagine spending your day finding food and firewood to cook for your husband, tending to the animals, having days where you do not have enough to eat because your husband has to always get the lions share.
Imagine a life of illiteracy, of not knowing how to read or to write, of having no education and no means of supporting yourself, ever. Imagine being caught in this endless cycle as you give birth to yet another daughter, who will grow up to lead the same life as you – and knowing that there is nothing, nothing that you as a mother can do to stop this cycle.
Imagine all this, happening not in years gone by, but in the year 2008. Just imagine ….."
At the recent Christmas Craft Fair, I met an incredible Maasai girl named Suzy (her English name) who’s mother managed to break the cycle for her, and get her an education. Suzy, (who is one of the most beautiful people – both inside and out – who I have ever met) was a little shy of being photographed, so I did not push the issue (I always ask permission before photographing people here). She is working for the “Maasai Women Fair Trade Center”, who’s aim is to empower & create opportunities for disadvantaged Maasai women, whilst still protecting the majority of the Maasai culture.
Suzy told me that she was working towards raising money for the education of young Maasai girls, so that they can break the endless cycle which they have been born into. Her stall contained many wonderful articles of Maasai beadwork, all created by these women who are trying to earn their own money for what is for most, the first time in their lives.
Of course not all Maasai children are born into this cycle, but in the more remote areas I think it is more prevalent. I asked Suzy how the Maasai really felt about having Western ideas and influences on their ancient ways & customs, and she said that whilst it is important to maintain these old traditions & beliefs, it is also important to find a balance between the two, and to find a way of adapting some of these old customs into newer and safer practices.
I also came upon another stall run by the “Simanjiro Maasai Women’s Group”. (Siminajiro is a remote semi-arid region in the north of Tanzania) and headed up by a wonderful young teenage Tanzanian Maasai man (I’m sorry that I never got his name !) who is passionately working to end this same cycle, and helping to spread the message to other young Maasai men & male members of his family. Wow, what a guy and I just couldn’t help but compare him to many teens today who are caught up in all sorts – crime, gangs, drugs, etc – yet here is a man who has very little & comes from an endless cycle of poverty yet has managed to break free of this & is using his voice to change the lives of others – dynamically – yet at such a young age, and is doing so much with his young life.
I made donations to both organizations, supporting them by buying some of the beautiful items they had for sale, and now that I am more aware, I can do more in the future. It also reminded me of the fact that although we live in a country where we have very little, it is life lessons and meeting people like this, that make all the difference. My daughter (who met these people with me, and listened to their stories) will grow up knowing of people and situations like this, and will realize how privileged she is to live the life that she does, and hopefully she will grow up wanting to help others less fortunate than herself, because of this.
As I said to Suzy when she thanked me for supporting her organization (please visit their wesbite here) as I was leaving “I am a woman, you are a woman, and although we come from different lives, we are very much the same – we are all sisters, and as women, it is our duty to help and support each other and to help other women in need wherever we can”.
So, far more that a fun day out of Christmas shopping & catching up with friends, the Christmas Craft Fair also really made me stop and think about how lucky I am of having the privilege, even as a woman, to be able to decide my own future. Something that so many of us take for granted and which I, too, had up until the day that I met Suzy, and heard her story.
Imagine that as a young girl going through puberty, you have to undergo a circumcision ceremony. Because if you are uncircumcised, you will not be as desirable a wife, nor will you fetch as high a price in livestock when you get married. Imagine having markings etched or burned into your face, to show that you are part of that tribe.
Imagine that you have to share your husband (who may be old enough to be your father or grandfather) with many other wives and bear him children year after year, as children are another sign of wealth. Imagine that if for some reason you cannot bear children (or stop having them) you will be returned – in shame – to your family.
Imagine spending your day finding food and firewood to cook for your husband, tending to the animals, having days where you do not have enough to eat because your husband has to always get the lions share.
Imagine a life of illiteracy, of not knowing how to read or to write, of having no education and no means of supporting yourself, ever. Imagine being caught in this endless cycle as you give birth to yet another daughter, who will grow up to lead the same life as you – and knowing that there is nothing, nothing that you as a mother can do to stop this cycle.
Imagine all this, happening not in years gone by, but in the year 2008. Just imagine ….."
At the recent Christmas Craft Fair, I met an incredible Maasai girl named Suzy (her English name) who’s mother managed to break the cycle for her, and get her an education. Suzy, (who is one of the most beautiful people – both inside and out – who I have ever met) was a little shy of being photographed, so I did not push the issue (I always ask permission before photographing people here). She is working for the “Maasai Women Fair Trade Center”, who’s aim is to empower & create opportunities for disadvantaged Maasai women, whilst still protecting the majority of the Maasai culture.
Suzy told me that she was working towards raising money for the education of young Maasai girls, so that they can break the endless cycle which they have been born into. Her stall contained many wonderful articles of Maasai beadwork, all created by these women who are trying to earn their own money for what is for most, the first time in their lives.
Of course not all Maasai children are born into this cycle, but in the more remote areas I think it is more prevalent. I asked Suzy how the Maasai really felt about having Western ideas and influences on their ancient ways & customs, and she said that whilst it is important to maintain these old traditions & beliefs, it is also important to find a balance between the two, and to find a way of adapting some of these old customs into newer and safer practices.
I also came upon another stall run by the “Simanjiro Maasai Women’s Group”. (Siminajiro is a remote semi-arid region in the north of Tanzania) and headed up by a wonderful young teenage Tanzanian Maasai man (I’m sorry that I never got his name !) who is passionately working to end this same cycle, and helping to spread the message to other young Maasai men & male members of his family. Wow, what a guy and I just couldn’t help but compare him to many teens today who are caught up in all sorts – crime, gangs, drugs, etc – yet here is a man who has very little & comes from an endless cycle of poverty yet has managed to break free of this & is using his voice to change the lives of others – dynamically – yet at such a young age, and is doing so much with his young life.
I made donations to both organizations, supporting them by buying some of the beautiful items they had for sale, and now that I am more aware, I can do more in the future. It also reminded me of the fact that although we live in a country where we have very little, it is life lessons and meeting people like this, that make all the difference. My daughter (who met these people with me, and listened to their stories) will grow up knowing of people and situations like this, and will realize how privileged she is to live the life that she does, and hopefully she will grow up wanting to help others less fortunate than herself, because of this.
As I said to Suzy when she thanked me for supporting her organization (please visit their wesbite here) as I was leaving “I am a woman, you are a woman, and although we come from different lives, we are very much the same – we are all sisters, and as women, it is our duty to help and support each other and to help other women in need wherever we can”.
So, far more that a fun day out of Christmas shopping & catching up with friends, the Christmas Craft Fair also really made me stop and think about how lucky I am of having the privilege, even as a woman, to be able to decide my own future. Something that so many of us take for granted and which I, too, had up until the day that I met Suzy, and heard her story.
