Frog Pond Productions

A private nonprofit educational communications network

MCEP Website

Please visit: www.quenchthethirst.org for more information about our efforts to help the Maasai.

Second Well Hits Water on August 31, 2006

First Well Drilling Successful on December 1, 2005

 

Update from Phyllis - Dec '07

In December, 2004, MCEP was organized by a group of volunteers in Bucks County, PA. For the past three and a half years, members of the Maasai Cultural Exchange Project have shared the fascinating, diverse culture of the Maasai tribe of Kenya, East Africa with thousands of American school students, businesses, church groups, families and senior citizens. MCEP founders linked with SIMOO (Simba Outreach Organization), a Maasai NGO in Kenya, to bring worldwide vision to our community in a global effort to provide clean water, knowledge and better living conditions to our Maasai friends. In addition, our citizens have been reminded by the Maasai of the precious gift of water and given an appreciation of our natural resources and advanced infrastructure, which are sometimes taken for granted. Through community contributions, US citizens have generously supported fund raising efforts to drill five wells and provide school fees sponsoring over 125 Maasai students. Two of the five wells were generously funded by U.S. and Kenyan Rotarians.

 

Since 2004, our Maasai guests have made cultural presentations at 67 schools, 14 churches, 30 businesses, three hospitals and 13 rotary clubs.

 

A Maasai documentary film called “Quench” is being produced by MCEP from footage gathered by professional volunteers during the 2005 visit to Kenya. Editing has been done on a volunteer basis and the six minute trailer which was completed in ’06 has been successfully used at US presentations. The trailer can be seen on the web page-www.quenchthethirst.org. which was also created professionally by volunteerism.

 

Maasai women are responsible for fetching water everyday for their households. Before the wells were available, the women walked six to eight hours to fetch water from open streams and springs. The availability of above-ground water is limited due to drought and often polluted and dangerous for human consumption. With the blessing of well water, the women now walk shorter distances and are assured reliable, clean water. They now have more time to complete other household chores, take care of their families, grow small kitchen gardens, develop cottage industries and pursue educational goals. Many married women are returning to school to complete primary school and high school.

 

Last year, MCEP introduced the Maasai to a QVC vendor who has developed a beaded hair decoration called a “Hairhugger.” The Maasai women are now being paid to produce the product that sells on TV. Many other opportunities are being discussed to improve the living standards of the Maasai including a filtration system for the water dam. This project is being investigated by another Maasai support group in Seattle, WA. Through networking and brainstorming with other groups who sponsor Maasai projects, we look forward to future ideas and coordinating the trips and support of the Maasai. Our objective is to raise funds for ten wells and continue the educational support of our Maasai students.

 

We look forward to hosting the Maasai again in spring 2008 and plan our 3rd annual charity walk around Lake Galena, along with many presentations.

 

Ashe Oleng

Phyllis Eckelmeyer co-founder MCEP

HAIRZING.com

http://www.hairzing.com

“Hair Hugger Maasai Collection” sold on QVC.com

Anonymous Donor Helps Fund Well

Dear Friends,

 

In May and June, 2005, Maasai tribal members presented many cultural programs to area organizations including the Doylestown Rotary. Mike Scobey, Intelligencer Newspaper publisher and Rotarian, heard the story of the Maasai's desperate need for water. The newspaper published a front page story on the efforts of MCEP (Maasai Cultural Exchange Project), a Bucks County volunteer nonprofit effort working to raise funding for wells and education for the Maasai in Kenya. Many area residents responded to the newspaper article with an outpouring of financial support by way of tax-deductible donations made to MCEP. Among them, a sophomore college student from Bucks County graciously and generously made a donation of $30,000 to the Maasai well project.

 

The student, who wishes to remain anonymous, feels incredibly fortunate to have survived a life-threatening automobile accident and wants to share life's blessings by giving the precious gift of water. The donor says that faith in God and family support have inspired the gift. This remarkable young person along with all the others who have shown concern for the needs of the Maasai will now make it possible for them to have water in their village. MCEP continues to fundraise for additional wells and education. Funding and completion of the film project also remains a priority. Along with Maasai leaders, Francis ole Sakuda and Daniel Salau, MCEP members are dedicated to documenting and perpetuating the story of the Maasai indigenous tribe to help their culture survive.

Education Fund

Education Fund

MCEP has established a student sponsorship program to help provide school fees to educate Maasai children and women. Primary School: $150; Secondary School: $700; College: $3,500.


Working directly with SIMOO in Kenya, US schools and organizations are currently sponsoring students in four Maasai schools.

Please make your tax-deductible donation payable to MCEP, and designate your donation in support of the Education Fund.