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Bring Education and Equality to Maasai children
Our end-of-year fundraiser is happening now!
Join our 2025 End-of-Year fundraiser from December 2nd (Giving Tuesday) to December 31st! The first $5,000 in donations will be matched thanks to a generous donor.
Our primary goal is to raise $40,000 for the Engaruka English Medium Primary School (EEMPS) 2026 sponsorship/operating costs. In 2026, the school will have approximately 340 students in preschool through 7th grade, with over half of the students from families that can not afford to educate their children. The $40,000 is half of MEF’s $80,000 sponsorship/operating funds 2026 commitment to EEMPS. In 2025, MEF donations sponsored approximately 150 charity students at the school. In addition, we hope to raise $10,000 to begin planning and construction of teacher housing. The school is located in a remote area, and teacher housing is needed to attract and retain the best teachers.
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The cost to sponsor a charity student in 2026 is $700. This pays a student’s tuition, room and board, school uniforms, medical care, etc. Donors who sponsor a specific child receive updates, grades, and photos, and can communicate with their child via email or video chat. If you do not sponsor a specific child, your donation will go towards other charity students. You are also welcome to visit the school and/or your sponsored child. There are currently five trips planned to the school by sponsors in 2026 and more are expected. If you are interested in visiting the school and going on a safari, contact us, and we will help you make arrangements.
Photos of charity students needing sponsors are available by clicking HERE.
To donate by credit card, please use the following secure PayPal Giving Fund link by clicking HERE.
Checks payable to Maasai Education Foundation may be mailed to 345 Woods Ln, Newport, VA 24128.
Corporate Match? If a corporate match is possible for your donation, please sign up for your corporate match. You can see if your employer provides an employee match by clicking HERE.
Pledges – If you want to participate in the fundraiser but your donation will take time to reach us or you plan to make your donation after the first of the year, please email, text 540-922-2971, or mail us your pledge.
Canadian citizens can make their tax-deductible donation through the Canadian Maasai Education Society by clicking HERE.
ENCO Secondary School (ENCOSS) Donations: This fundraiser is not specifically seeking funds for the new ENCO Secondary School construction or sponsorships, but if you wish to continue sponsoring a secondary school student or contribute to the needs of ENCOSS, click HERE, make your donation, and email us indicate your donation or a portion of it is for the secondary school. ENCOSS donations are not included in the fundraiser totals.
Limited Resources
In rural Maasai communities, formal education is scarce, especially for girls. Without access to schooling, many families see marriage as the logical next step for their daughters, some as young as 12 years old.
Limited English
In remote regions, classes are taught in Maasai and Swahili. There’s little English. Yet without a mastery of English, a child can only advance so far through the Tanzanian education system.
Unlimited Hope
In pursuit of justice and social equality, Martha Mereso Sengeruan established the Engaruka English Medium Primary School, providing room and board for students from remote villages. In addition, the school acts as a refuge from cultural practices such as early marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The Maasai Education Foundation supports the mission of the Engaruka school
In turn, your generous donations support our work, from ongoing construction, upkeep, and housing to sponsorships for students in need.
A chance encounter was destined to change everything
Two young girls. A herd of goats. And a bond that is still impacting lives today.
The origins of the Engaruka English Medium Primary School and the Maasai Education Foundation were recently profiled in Virginia Tech Magazine. Click below to read the article. See how it all started and where the vision is headed.
99% of your gift directly benefits children
At the foundation, we are all unpaid volunteers. There are few if any expenses. Our bylaws state that at least 90% of all donations are spent on programs and not on fundraising, management and general expenses. To date, more than 99% of MEF donations have been spent on programs benefiting the school and cross-cultural exchanges.
“It’s their school;
Theo Dillaha, Professor Emeritus at Virginia Tech
We’re just here to support.”
Here’s what it costs to keep the school going. Giving this amount – or any contribution toward it – is greatly appreciated.
Reserve their seat in the classroom
Reserve their seat in the classroom
You can fully sponsor a child or sponsor a portion of their tuition, fees, and room and board. We can even arrange a flexible payment plan for you. Meet the students who are waiting for you to change their lives.
August Student Spotlight
August 6, 2025
Nendeipa is a curious and playful Maasai girl who enjoys asking questions and participating in group activities. She is particularly good with numbers and loves counting games during class sessions. Nendeipa dreams of staying in school and becoming someone who can help her community. A sponsorship would give her the opportunity to build a better
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
Nelson Mandela