The Maa Relieved Of The Food Burden In The Wake Of Corona Virus
Damaris Kiilu
As Coronavirus disease continues affecting different communities, The Maa Trust, with the help of Mara Elephant Project (MEP), has distributed staple food packages to 637 Maasai families affected by the downturn in tourism due to COVID-19.
The food packages donated by the Sidekick Foundation, a supporter of both wildlife and communities in the Mara through The Maa Trust and MEP, will fully distribute the food which will feed a total of 12,300 people in the Mara.
The rapid global spread of the COVID-19 virus has forced the temporary closure of The Maa Trust a non-profit organization and its social enterprises Maa Beadwork, Maa Honey, and its scholarship programme.
This economic downturn due to COVID-19 means that the families engaged in The Maa Trust’s programmes have been left without a source of income, which presents many challenges, including food insecurity.
Both The Maa Trust and MEP wants to ensure communities are still benefiting from wildlife, even without tourism as MEP works closely with the communities to protect Kenya’s iconic elephants and the Mara ecosystem.
The Sidekick Foundation donated a total of Ksh1.79 million to fund food packages filled with staple items that will provide aid for the families for one month.
The Maa Trust has secured permission from local authorities and is arranging distribution at 12 sites which are easily accessible to the families. The Mara Elephant Project is lending a vehicle and personnel support in this exercise while following the Ministry of Health safety directives for the food distribution and training is also being provided to the community members on handwashing and social distancing measures to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease.
“It was very difficult closing The Maa Trust so as to abide by government regulations and keep both staff and organization beneficiaries safe, where 19,000 people benefit through our various initiatives and so the cessation of all activities lies heavily on my conscience. I was delighted when they presented this extremely generous offer to provide food for the families who are unable to earn their usual income through our social enterprises because of the closure of the organization,” said Dr. Crystal Mogensen, Chief Executive Officer, The Maa Trust.
Dr Mogensen noted that 637 families are only a fraction of the deserving families in the Maasai Mara, however, this generous support will have a direct and powerful impact on thousands of people.
“We do not have words to express this, thank you very much for this food from Sidekick Foundation and The Maa Trust which is helping us at this time of coronavirus. The Maa Beadwork ladies are very grateful for this wonderful job, “said Nashuluni Maitai, a beadwork member of the Maa.
The Maa Trust is a non-profit organization working in partnership with community-owned wildlife conservancies in the Maasai Mara and MEP is a non-governmental organization working closely with communities to protect Kenya’s iconic elephants and the Mara ecosystem.
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