The initial project of the MAO in the community was to facilitate the formation of a women’s self help group, a community based organization (CBO) called the Karimatisho (Maasai for helping others). The women in the CBO wanted to make and market traditional Maasai beaded jewelry and use the proceeds of the jewelry sales to send their daughters to school at the Siana Boarding Primary School. The MAO has helped this group with its quality control and marketing efforts.

Over the years the scope of the MAO projects has widened. Now the MAO also sponsors projects within the community that deal with health, water and education.

MAO projects which involve education:

• Funding scholarships for girls to the Siana Boarding Primary School (30)
• Providing school supplies to the five primary day schools in the Siana Location
• Funding construction of a kindergarten classroom at the Siana Boarding Primary School

MAO projects focusing on community health:

• GIS mapping project of Siana Location to use in community planning
• Hydro-geologic survey of several communities
• Ongoing community mobilization to develop sustainable sources of clean water
• Renovation of the Megwarra Dispensary, a Ministry of Health public clinic
• Household Safe Water Project to teach water purification methods
• Drip irrigation project for home gardens to improve nutrition

The MAO employs Agnes Sereti Meja, a young educated Maasai woman, as a full time community development worker. She supervises the progress of the MAO scholarship students, facilitates the Karimatisho CBO, advises the new women’s agricultural group about drip irrigation techniques, and teaches home water purification techniques.