Learning Together: Bringing Maasai core values into British schools Gemma Burford Co-Founder &...
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Transcript of Learning Together: Bringing Maasai core values into British schools Gemma Burford Co-Founder &...
Learning Together:Learning Together:Bringing Maasai core Bringing Maasai core
values into British values into British schoolsschools
Gemma BurfordGemma BurfordCo-Founder & International Liaison, Co-Founder & International Liaison,
Noonkodin Secondary SchoolNoonkodin Secondary School
Emaiyan – BlessingEmaiyan – Blessing (A (A sense of sacredness)sense of sacredness)
Maasai remember Maasai remember Engai Engai the the Creator every dayCreator every day
Women make offerings of milk Women make offerings of milk All meetings start with All meetings start with
communal prayer communal prayer Important meetings held under Important meetings held under
a sacred tree, the a sacred tree, the oretetioreteti Pilgrimages to Ol Doinyo Pilgrimages to Ol Doinyo
L’Engai, the ‘Mountain of God’L’Engai, the ‘Mountain of God’ All communities have a spiritual All communities have a spiritual
leader, the leader, the oloibonioloiboni
EnaboishuEnaboishu – Oneness– Oneness (We (We AREARE one family!) one family!)
Young men aren’t allowed to Young men aren’t allowed to eat meat, drink milk or even eat meat, drink milk or even take a bath alone!take a bath alone!
Elders & children are treasured Elders & children are treasured Children eat wherever they’re Children eat wherever they’re
hungry and sleep wherever hungry and sleep wherever they’re tiredthey’re tired
Everyone contributes to Everyone contributes to community festivalscommunity festivals
Everyone works together in Everyone works together in building new houses, searching building new houses, searching for lost cattle and growing foodfor lost cattle and growing food
Eserian – HarmonyEserian – Harmony (A (A place of peace)place of peace)
Peace means a good Peace means a good relationship between people, relationship between people, livestock and wild animalslivestock and wild animals
Maasai live alongside wild Maasai live alongside wild animals, and kill them only animals, and kill them only when they are a direct threatwhen they are a direct threat
Human beings are not separate Human beings are not separate from `the environment’, but part from `the environment’, but part of itof it
Forest retreat site (Forest retreat site (orpulorpul) is a ) is a place to restore your `warrior place to restore your `warrior spirit’ and healthspirit’ and health
Emorata – InitiationEmorata – Initiation (Taking responsibility)(Taking responsibility)
Clear line between childhood Clear line between childhood and adulthoodand adulthood
Facing challenges and proving Facing challenges and proving yourself to your eldersyourself to your elders
‘‘Washed clean’: new clothes, Washed clean’: new clothes, new greetings, new roles and new greetings, new roles and responsibilitiesresponsibilities
Everyone around you Everyone around you recognises you as an adultrecognises you as an adult
Learning secrets of married lifeLearning secrets of married life A commitment to serve societyA commitment to serve society
Modified Rites of Modified Rites of PassagePassage
Traditionally, girls undergo Traditionally, girls undergo female genital mutilation/cutting female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/FGC) between the ages (FGM/FGC) between the ages of 12 and 18of 12 and 18
This can cause serious health This can cause serious health problems and even deathproblems and even death
Our organization has helped to Our organization has helped to mobilise grassroots activists in mobilise grassroots activists in a campaign to modify the a campaign to modify the female initiation ceremonyfemale initiation ceremony
This involved eight villagesThis involved eight villages Now girls can be initiated Now girls can be initiated
without being cutwithout being cut
Osingolio – SongOsingolio – Song (Passing on the tradition)(Passing on the tradition)
An oral, not a written, traditionAn oral, not a written, tradition Songs and stories are the Songs and stories are the
community’s `libraries’community’s `libraries’ Elders tell stories to children Elders tell stories to children
around the firearound the fire Stories of ancient heroes are Stories of ancient heroes are
used to teach values and moral used to teach values and moral behaviourbehaviour
Dance is used to express Dance is used to express affection and strengthen affection and strengthen community bondscommunity bonds
ChallengesChallenges Broadening the concept of ‘unity’ beyond Broadening the concept of ‘unity’ beyond
the tribe, to the nation and the whole the tribe, to the nation and the whole worldworld
Protecting land and cattleProtecting land and cattle Impact of climate change on agricultureImpact of climate change on agriculture Getting enough clean waterGetting enough clean water Balancing traditional and modern Balancing traditional and modern
educationeducation Cash economy and rural-urban migrationCash economy and rural-urban migration
Noonkodin Secondary Noonkodin Secondary SchoolSchool
If it’s not brick, it’s not If it’s not brick, it’s not a classrooma classroom
P.S. If you don’t wear uniform, P.S. If you don’t wear uniform, you’re not a secondary school you’re not a secondary school
pupil!pupil!
2005: A Secondary 2005: A Secondary School is bornSchool is born
2006: 30 ‘refugees’ 2006: 30 ‘refugees’ from FGM from FGM
and forced marriageand forced marriage
Temporary housing Temporary housing was needed…fastwas needed…fast
2007: The struggle for 2007: The struggle for a permanent dorma permanent dorm
2008: A proud 2008: A proud graduate and his graduate and his
familyfamily
School Partnerships School Partnerships emergeemerge
What makes What makes Noonkodin unique?Noonkodin unique?
Focus on values and sustainable Focus on values and sustainable development development
Unity in Diversity Project:Unity in Diversity Project:- Students learn from elders about local Students learn from elders about local
cultureculture- Generation gaps are bridgedGeneration gaps are bridged- Traditions are documented and preservedTraditions are documented and preserved- Stereotypes are broken downStereotypes are broken down- Research into medicinal plants provides Research into medicinal plants provides
potential for income-generating activitiespotential for income-generating activities
Priority needsPriority needs New water harvesting tank (£2,000)New water harvesting tank (£2,000) An emergency vehicle to get students An emergency vehicle to get students
and staff to hospital quickly if they and staff to hospital quickly if they become acutely ill or are seriously become acutely ill or are seriously injured (£7,000)injured (£7,000)
Completing the second wing of the girls’ Completing the second wing of the girls’ dormitory (£6,500)dormitory (£6,500)
Staff training and professional Staff training and professional developmentdevelopment
Scholarships for 20 low-income studentsScholarships for 20 low-income students
What can £90 do?What can £90 do? Sponsor a day student for nine monthsSponsor a day student for nine months
OROR Buy a metal-framed bunk bed for the Buy a metal-framed bunk bed for the
dorm, together with two mattressesdorm, together with two mattresses
OROR Buy 60 text books and 60 pensBuy 60 text books and 60 pens
OROR Cultivate an acre of land to produce Cultivate an acre of land to produce
organic maize and beansorganic maize and beans
www.serianuk.orgwww.serianuk.org.uk.uk
Thanks for Thanks for [email protected]@serianuk.org.uk