The Maasai are traditionally a pure, pastoralist community, keeping large herds of cattle, sheep and goats. Their livestock determines their livelihood. Cattle and other livestock are dying at unforeseen numbers. The Maasai are being forced to move-to-move large numbers of livestock over miles of arid, drought-fraught conditions in search of water. Much of the livestock do not make the journey and worse, some Maasai abandon their animals all together, relocating to urban areas to seek employment.

By providing clean water sources, The Project can develop community gardens and small-scale farms to keep livestock healthy, allowing the Maasai to stay in areas long enough to fully develop viable communities without the burden of relocation. By providing stable, communities, the Maasai  can uphold traditional values and culture in rural Maasailand. The Maasai community attracts international tourism for Kenya, which is important for a sustainable economy.

It is estimated that 70% of women’s time in rural Kenya is spent in search of water. The Enkare Water Project is designed to alleviate the hardship of this arduous burden, freeing the Maasai women to cultivate and engage in entrepreneurial opportunities. By creating a readily available, accessible water source, the Maasai people can be empowered to develop more sophisticated agricultural skills, which can lead to greater fiscal responsibility and independence. Incidents of bodily injury will also be significantly reduced among women and girls carrying water across long distance and steep gradients. My Chosen Vessels has partnerships with local NGO’s to train the local communities on such things as bee keeping, livestock management, and small-scale farming.  

Can you imagine using contaminated water to bath and wash the faces of your children? Using contaminated water to do even simple household tasks such as washing utensils and clothing? The Maasai not only have to use diseased water to maintain their homes but for consumption, resulting in water borne diseases such as amoeboid, parasitic related diarrhea and typhoid.  The ENKARE Water Project will be key in significantly increasing access to clean water needed for adequate nutrition/hydration, medical and hygienic care. Once the Maasai have access to clean water their health care will improve substantially. The community will be able to wash their hands, utensils, dirty clothes and bath more often