Martha’s Story

A woman wearing traditional clothing with a line of students behind her

Martha & Maria

Martha Mereso Sengeruan was born in a boma (a small Maasai village consisting of a man and his wives and children) near the Engaruka village in 1984, to a family of eight children — three girls and five boys. Her father had many wives.

In 1990, the government mandated that each family register at least one child for primary education. Martha, around six years old at the time, was considered too young for boarding school, but her extended family chose her because she wasn’t skilled with livestock keeping. It didn’t help that she had a mischievous temperament too.

Though her older sister was a better fit for school age-wise, she was too cherished by the family to part with. Martha was registered, the first to attend school in her family.

Life was challenging, but Martha grew accustomed to the tough moments, occasional fights with other children, and bouts of homesickness. She especially appreciated having access to books, which helped her learn to read in Swahili by the first grade.

A group of students standing in a line holding staffs.

A Lifelong Love of Education

Martha continued her education by attending the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, where she pursued a three-year bachelor’s degree in social science. During her long holidays, Martha volunteered with various non-governmental organizations, including Community Research and Development Services (CORDS) and the Maasai Women Development Organization (MWEDO). Both internships provided her with valuable experience and deepened her desire to work in remote disadvantaged communities.

After completing her studies, she was hired by CORDS, where she worked for a year as the assistant head of the gender department. Later, she joined MWEDO as an education program officer, overseeing secondary education programs for more than 500 girls. She also led a five-year adult literacy project that reached about 6,000 women. After three years, she became MWEDO’s programs manager.

Through her time at MWEDO, Martha gained invaluable experience, which significantly contributed to her career growth. She gained a deep appreciation for the opportunities she had that many Maasai girls lacked, and she felt gratitude toward God for the grace bestowed upon her.

A room containing rows of bunk beds with young girls making them up

A life-changing decision

In July 2016, Martha consulted with God and her family about quitting her job to dedicate herself fully to harder-to-reach communities in Monduli, Longido, and Ngorongoro districts. She then founded the Engaruka Community Initiative Organization (ENCO), a non-profit focused on improving the livelihoods of pastoral communities through education, health, and economic empowerment programs.

Shortly after, she established an English medium primary school in her village, aimed at providing educational opportunities for Maasai children who had been denied their basic right to education due to poverty and cultural practices.

Two young women and an adult standing in a desert area.

Martha meets Maria

Martha’s vision for an English medium primary school was unexpectedly helped by a chance encounter between a group of American tourists on safari in 2016 and a young girl named Maria from Engaresero (Lake Natron).

The Americans had met Maria while on safari and decided to become her educational sponsor. Led by Essra Kibler, they attempted to find someone to help Maria, but they were unsuccessful until Martha learned of their efforts and volunteered to help.

Essra sent Martha a picture of Maria and the location of their encounter and Martha went to work on finding her. Martha discovered that Maria Papaa Kingi, a nine-year-old girl who appeared closer to six because of malnutrition, was being denied education to help her mother sell jewelry and in exchange for a dowry. Her father had already arranged her marriage to an older man in exchange for two cows as soon as Maria reached puberty.

Upon learning of Maria’s situation, Martha traveled to Maria’s village and with support from her father-in-law, Mr. Matthew Laizer, a highly respected senior elder, they convinced Maria’s family to allow her to attend school and live with Martha’s family in Arusha. Maria came to live with Martha and Abby, her husband, and their two children.

It was miraculous

Maria Papaa Kingi, a nine-year-old girl, knew only eight English words—“My name is Maria” and “ten thousand” or “five dollars”—from her daily activities selling jewelry for her mother but she did not speak a single word of Kiswahili. She had attended primary school only sporadically due to her jewelry selling. Martha applied for Maria to attend the Arusha Meru International School, which her own children attended, but with only one month until the school term began, they were uncertain.

One week before the school term began, Martha and Abby visited the Arusha Meru International School management, sharing Maria’s story and expressing their hope for her admission alongside their two children. The school requested an assessment, and Maria spent six hours with a class one teacher.

Students outside while an adult reads from a book

Students outside playing on a play ground

Martha was nervous about the outcome, unsure if Maria would be accepted. The feedback from the school was overwhelmingly positive, allowing her to start year one with extra tutoring. This outcome felt miraculous for Martha and her family. Maria began school the following week. Her sponsors, Rebecca Caldwell and Essra Kibler, flew in from the U.S. to celebrate her achievement and pay for her educational and living expenses.

Maria’s progress exceeded expectations, and she completed primary school and transitioned to secondary school in 2021. She is currently (2025) a standard 10 (10th grade) boarding student at the Lukenya Girls High School in Athi River, Kenya, along with two of Martha’s other children.

Martha and ENCO have recently expanded their vision and are now starting a secondary school for graduates of EEMPS. Construction started in 2024 after a successful local fundraising campaign and a generous donation from various members of the Crane family of Columbus, Ohio, USA.