Oltukai Conservancy

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jan 28 2008 | By: admin

Hello All!

A quick update and some new information!

The Ol Tukai Conservancy and The Tanzanian Govt. helped the Ol Tukai community to organize themselves into the water supply programme in which two durable dams were constructed. These dams are now filled with water, that used for washing at tapstand constructed in Ol Tukai Village.
I know how hard life is for women in the Maasai steppe. Here in Ol Tukai, women used to rise at dawn to milk the cattle before tying water containers on the donkeys to begin enough km trek to their water sources at the river basin of Ol Tukai or mswakini, way over there. They had to bring enough water for their family plus for any sick livestock who could not walk to water.
Sometimes this took 4-8 hours every day. Now with the new piped water scheme delivery water right to a tap stand near our homes, We have plenty of water not just for human, livestock and wildlife drinking, but for washing as much as we want.

NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN.
Besides sensitization and training of Village, Ol Tukai Conservancy, other major input is in skills training, particularly those skills which will enable masai women groups to learn income and improve the quality of lives. In 2007, 120 women to the opportunity to learn skills in diverse fields to like handicrafting, Beading, Loan management, Business management including running a small village shop and mobilize funds from the conservancy and other sources to help each improve the lives.
What began as small changes has had a great impact.

THE VILLAGE INFORMATION CENTRE- FRUIT OF OL TUKAI CONSERVANCY.
If you do not have information, you are like a house that no one lives in.
When this partnerships of the conservancy and the community infrastructure, the Tanzanian Govt, and The African Wildlife Foundation and equiped the village information centre, Ol Tukai community got access to whole World of Information.
Of course, We are most interested in what is going on in our Neighbouring Countries and developments in the piece process and security, but we are also interested in events in the World, and now we have access through newspapers, magazines and satellite radio.
The Anti-poaching team, staff and the community at large use the centre a lot for coordination, and it can also functions as a community centre, where we can hold meetings and other events.
INFORMATION IS A SWEET FRUIT.

Thank you for your continued support!

Boniface Ngimojino

2 responses so far

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jan 18 2008 | By: admin

Dear colleagues,
I am Boniface Ngimojino, who has been assisting with the issues of the conservancy (Ol Tukai), and have a strong urge within myself to let you know the the updates/events including the recent developments.
As reported, we have received the first rains in Ol Tukai and will lead the team of 20 doctors to Loibon (social and spiritual doctor), all these undertaken.
The rains at the moment stopped though, still have lot of green pasture and water which is attracting Wildebeest, antelopes, Zebras and birds around the lake.
The Team of Doctors who visited the area became very happy and enjoyed the local knowledge, in which a good number of questions were asked. Since the Maasai are among of the few tribes that are preserving their cultures, traditions and Identities.

The Laibon belongs to the Maasai tribe (Shinini clan) and has powers and manages to know the future, that enables him to be trusted and respected in the society.
In two weeks time we are going to start the tee-planting project around Ol Tukai dam, where the Instructor will demonstrate how to plant the Native trees at the site of the dam.
The School pupils, Anti-poaching team and community at-large will be involved in this exercise, so as to acquire knowledge. Will give the results/feedback after the implementation of the project.
Thank you,
Boniface Ngimojino.

2 responses so far

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jan 12 2008 | By: admin

Hello All!

A happy new year and hopefully a fruitful one for everyone out there!

The Ol Tukai Conservancy is doing very well, and we would like very much to express our sadness at the events in Kenya and how they may be effecting our colleagues, and their families. We hope that the situation resolves itself quickly and without any more bloodshed.

The Ol Tukai Community received 18 visitors on safari with National Geographic in early December. These guests were given a lecture by Mr. Bonifas Ngomojino who will be taking over this blog for me imminently and were shown the projects of the conservancy, from the anti-poaching unit to the newest kitchen for the local primary school! We are currently negotiating with the outfitters for the National Geographic expeditions to have all of their tours visit the project.

Tommorrow (Sunday, 13th Jan, 2008) we will be receiving a visit from 20 Australian Doctors who will be spending time with a Laibon (a Masai spiritual and social leader, who is also the possessor of extremely valuable knowledge for the community) who will be showing them local medicinal plants, their preparation and prescription.

Otherwise all is well and the work continues apace!

Thanks!
Corbett Bishop

2 responses so far