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ALL ABOUT US AND THE PROJECT
HOW IT ALL STARTED
Greetings! My name is Sigrid Skrivervik Bruvoll and I am a Norwegian botanist. The Maasai call me Nasha, which means the one who comes with the rain in Maa, the Maasai language. This might have a negative connotation in northern Europe, but in the Maasai village of Oloropil, the rains were welcomed with joy after a long period of drought.
The year was 2016. Backpacking through Africa I met this beautiful Maasai tribe that instantly made me feel at home, and as welcome as the rain greening the landscape around us. Staying with a family there for a time, it became clear that while being rich in terms of social life and living close to nature, this culture was suffering from a common range of pressures forced upon the natives of the world. This includes the effects of climate change (extended periods of drought) and lack of land because of population growth and privatization. Both makes it impossible for the Maasai to live their traditional nomadic pastoralist ways, and many struggle to put food on the table and send their kids to school. Thus they must find other ways to make a living, and the thriving tourism of Kenya is a worthy candidate.
There's a problem though: the fruits of tourism travel straight back to Nairobi together with the safari companies.
In the light of the fireplace, tucked inside the cozy clay huts, we discussed this situation and how we could transform it into an advantage for the village. The answer was there right in front of our noses. In the walls around us and in the atmosphere of the room: The Maasai experience. Feeling the essence of their culture, their values, their radiance. That is something only the Maasai can offer, and it is something absolutely priceless.
So we built the frame to make that experience possible, in the shape of a traditional Maasai guesthouse. I present to you: Olonyori Maasai house. Olonyori means green in the Maa language, and represents our goal to be a sustainable initiative deeply connected to the roots, both of nature and of the Maasai culture.
Throughout the years the house has become so much more than I could ever imagine. It generates income for the village as a guesthouse, as was the initial goal. This is distributed through salaries for those who maintain the house and take care of our guests (and thus to their extended family and neighbours), through school fees for children of the village as well as hospital bills and food during hard times. Throughout the Covid19 pandemic, we’ve organized home schooling in the guesthouse compound, and offered the kids a hot meal. We make sure to have a first aid supply in the house, so those unlucky ones to get injured know where to go. And through our growing project we organize a sponsorship program where those who feel called can ensure the education of a child through a yearly contribution.
I am so proud of what we have accomplished so far, and so grateful to be a part of this project that has become a family. I warmly welcome all who wish to be a part of it, be it as a sponsor for the project or a child, as a guest in our guesthouse, or any other positive resource for our cause!
Warm greetings,
Sigrid Nasha
WHO WILL YOU MEET?
William will be your chef and prepare all meals throughout your stay. He has a natural talent for mixing different spices and herbs, and we are repeatedly informed that his dishes are the best found in all of Kenya! He is also the manager of the sponsorship program, and has big heart and a burning commitment for the cause. He is usually to be found in the kitchen building adjacent to the guesthouse, or somewhere nearby.
Feel free to go to him with any questions, requests or concerns. With his calm and kind manner he will make sure that you feel safe and welcome.
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Kemanisho made our project possible through opening up her house and family, creating the space and safety that allowed the first seeds of ideas to sprout and grow in the evenings around her fireplace. Through mutual interest and a wish to understand the other, we embarked on the journey of learning each other’s languages. We spent countless hours together bending branches and getting soaked in mud in the process of building our guesthouse, and her lovely company made it more fun than work!
Ask Alex to take you for a tea visit, meet their lovely children and feel the force that initiated this whole adventure!
Alex is one of the founders of the project, and none of it would exist without his persistent work and will to make a difference. He will go out of his way to fulfil your wishes and needs, so don’t hesitate to ask! He is also an amazing animal spotter and has great knowledge about the local vegetation and animals.
Ask for his company on a bushwalk or a game drive and you will be sure to come out the other end filled to the brink with fascinating knowledge!
Samson is the chosen village chief. He has earned the trust of the community through being a strong and steady voice and a source of creative initiatives improving people’s economies and lives. He has been with us from the start, and always shows up when needed, whether for troubleshooting, conflict resolution or organising village meetings.
If you book a safari with us, he is likely to be your driver, and can answer any questions you have about the wildlife or the Maasai culture.
Nashepai means happy in Maa, and this girl certainly lives up to her name. Always smiling and laughing, she is a bright and clear ray of sunshine in any assembly. She is also a strong voice representing the women, and she is one of few women in the village to speak English.
Ask to join her collecting water in the river or firewood in the bush or to meet the other women. She will happily show you her cozy house and introduce you to her children.
Siankey is a powerhouse of a woman who works day and night to take care of her six children, for whom she is the sole provider. She also raised her siblings from a young age, as their parents died young, one of them being William our cook. Her strong exterior may seem intimidating at first, but she has a heart of gold and an inexhaustible source of care for those around her.
She has been an invaluable asset in the construction and maintenance of the house, and helps preparing the space for our guests.