Supporting conservation through sustainable, community-led development in the Maasai Mara

Established in 2006, The Maa Trust partners with local Maasai communities to build capacity, strengthen leadership, and foster long-term partnerships that drive social, economic, and environmental transformation across the Maasai Mara.

Sharing the same values as Indigo Earth Foundation, The Maa Trust believes that true conservation is only sustainable when communities are at the heart of the solution.

Its approach prioritises community well-being and leadership, recognising that strong communities are the foundation of effective conservation.

The organisation works across four regions of the Maasai Mara, covering approximately 4,500 square kilometres and serving a population of around 200,000 people through community-led structures and advisory committees.

The organisation works across Four priority areas identified by local communities.

Integrated Education and Child Protection 

Empowering children through education and safeguarding their future. 

The Maa Trust expands access to quality education while addressing harmful practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage, and child labour. Its initiatives create safe, inclusive spaces for children to learn, grow, and lead. 

• Ng'ila Integrated Early Childhood Development and Primary School provides young learners with safe, local access to education, reducing the risks of long walks through wildlife areas. 

• The Scholarship Programme supports vulnerable students from primary to tertiary level, achieving a 100% transition rate in 2024. 

• Conservation Holiday Camps combine mentorship, environmental education, and fun activities like game drives to inspire the next generation of conservation leaders. 

• The IT Hub at Talek Youth Friendly Centre equips Maasai youth with digital skills to enhance employability and access to higher education. 

• Through career guidance workshops and an annual career fair, students connect with universities, technical colleges, and mentors to plan their futures confidently. 

Water and Health 

Building healthier communities through access, safety, and awareness. 

The Maa Trust constructs community and school water projects, including six large rainwater harvesting systems, two spring rehabilitations, and smaller systems for schools and households. These initiatives reduce long, dangerous walks to fetch water and protect women from wildlife encounters. In addition to clean water access, the Trust promotes WASH education (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) focusing on menstrual hygiene awareness. 

The Integrated Community Healthcare Programme delivers mobile healthcare services to marginalized families across the Maasai Mara, emphasizing sexual and reproductive health awareness and access. 

The Talek Community Health Centre, a recently established maternity and emergency facility, provides comprehensive maternal and reproductive healthcare services to families across the Maasai Mara. The centre offers blood transfusion capability, anti-venom treatment, diagnostic services including echography and X-ray, caesarean surgery, early infant monitoring, and high-risk pregnancy care. Since its opening, the facility has supported hundreds of safe deliveries and significantly improved access to life-saving care in a region where medical infrastructure remains limited.

Socio-Economic Empowerment 

Creating livelihoods, independence, and gender equality. 

The Maa Trust manages two in-house social enterprises, Maa Beadwork and Maa Bees, alongside entrepreneurship and financial management training for local communities. 

• Maa Beadwork connects over 450 Maasai women artisans with the tourism market, providing income and independence.

• Maa Bees supports over 200 beekeepers, mostly women, through technical training and equipment provision. 

• The Street Business School entrepreneurship programme empowers individuals through a six-month training course that significantly increases household income. 

• Financial management and micro-enterprise workshops equip participants with essential business skills. 

Gender, Governance and Conservation

Gender, governance and conservation leadership are integrated across all programmes.

Through Women in Leadership initiatives, Women in Conservation Forums, safeguarding systems, and structured male-engagement dialogues, the Trust works to shift community norms, strengthen women’s land rights, and increase female participation in conservation and decision-making.

The Maa Trust’s integrated conservation programming recognises that conservation outcomes are directly linked to community well-being. By constructing schools and dormitories, improving access to safe drinking water, supporting family-planning services, and diversifying livelihoods beyond pastoralism, the Trust reduces human-wildlife conflict and pressure on natural resources. Empowering women and youth strengthens participation in land and resource governance, ensuring that conservation is both inclusive and locally sustained.