Yaisai Munke
The look on the face of this beautiful woman reflects her joy and also her yearnings.
Yaisai believes she is about 29 years old. (There were no birth records when she was born and chronological age was not tracked).
She is fortunate to have a husband who does not want his family to live the
traditional Maasai way. They have 2 children ages, 10 and 14 and 3 homeless children that they have taken into their home.
Yaisai's husband allowed her to finish high school and to go on for her 2 year teaching certificate. She is a teacher in the primary school (grades 1-8) near her village. As a teacher she makes about $60.00 a month.
Her day begins early as she arises before her family to start the fires for tea. Tea, and chapati, (flat bread), if left over from the night before, is what they have for breakfast. She must gather water from a holding tank for the tea. She cooks on a small charcoal burner.
Once the family is fed, Yaisai walks some 2 miles to her teaching position where there is 100 children in the class that she teaches. She may or may not have lunch that day. She will definitely have tea with milk.
As she walks home, after school, she will gather wood for the fire. She will cook dinner on the charcoal burner and it will take up to 3 hours to prepared a meal. She works by the light of a oil lamp,as there is no electricity in her home.
She grows vegetables in her garden. A good meal would be a kind of stew with vegetables and sometimes a little meat. Some meals may consist only of a kind of white cornmeal, mixed with water, called Ugali. Ugali is really just something to fill the stomach.
Saturday is wash day if there is enough water. It takes all day to wash and hang the clothes.
Sunday will find Yaisai and her family in church. They are dedicated Christians. They hold Bible Study in their home every Friday.
The surrounding country side where the family lives is beautiful and contrasted by the poverty and challenges of the people as they work to eke out a living.
Because she is educated Yaisai speaks and writes English.
Yaisai's and her families lot in life, can be significantly impacted with an extra money she receives from her sponsor/mentor. $25.00 of the monthly fee will go directly to Yaisai, with $5.00 going for the wiring and administrative costs.
There are many medical challenges because of the water-borne diseases. Her husband just recovered from a very serious bout with a resistant Malaria. This family has depleted all of there resources with hospital bills and medicines.
By sharing your experiences, you and Yaisai, your Maasai sister, will learn of each others cultural differences, and you will also learn how much you are alike.
"Jesus said: go home to your friends and tell them what wonderful things the Lord has done for you..." - Mark 5:19
Email nosim@nosimmaasaimission.org with your request to sponsor Yaisai Munke.
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Agnes Wamuwyak Kuluo
I am an orphan and a mother of four: my three girls, one boy. My mother passed away when I was only 11 years. She left behind 12 children: 7 girls, 5 boys. Our three elder sisters managed to continue with their studies up to O level. They were employed: one as a teacher and the other two as nurses. They started to help our father to educate the nine behind them. Two of my sisters got married when I was in class 5 leaving the whole burden of educating us to my elder sister and my father. After completing my primary education, my father saw it wise of me and my other two sisters not to go ahead with our education so that they might continue with the three boys (brothers). But my sister struggled very much while my father continued with our brothers. When I was in town, my sister got in an accident (road), and she was admitted for 6 months in Aga-Khan Hospital in Nairobi. From there our education was affected until we dropped out due to lack of school fees. I stayed at home for 1 1/2 years until I decided to get married. I was married by my husband, Gabriel Utoya Kuluo, in 1991 not knowing that he was suffering mental illness. We continue staying together in a hotel where he was working until after three months when he became sick. He started behaving different from how he was. The manager of that hotel took us back to their home when he was taken to Narobi Hospital. That is when I learned that he was discovered four years back with a mental problem. That did not make me run away from him and his condition was okay. After visiting the hospital for almost five years, he was discovered that he was taking alcohol, cigarettes. He was warned by the Doctor but all was in vain.
In 1996 when my fourth born was only two months, he became worse, domestic violence started and that is when I lost my tooth. My body is full of scars, and I decided to runaway from him. I have been on and off for several times until 2003 Dec. He is now in the hospital as severe chronic Schizophrenia and may never get out. I decided to go back to our family. I am jobless. I depend on casual labor which we are paid ? for six hours. My first born is in a secondary school form I and the others are in class 7, class 5, and class 3, the younger boy. I am struggling very much to give them their basic and daily needs. I kindly request you and your frie to assist me educate my young children. God bless you as you prepare to assist me.
From
Agnes Wamuwyak Kuluo
$30.00 a month will allow her to support herself and her children. Your letters will lift her spirits. A friend in need.
Email nosim@nosimmaasaimission.org with your request to sponsor Agnes K.
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Harriet M
Son, Quince Don
Harriet M. is about 23 years old. She is raising
her young son alone. Currently, she lives in the home of her Father who is a Methodist Minister. She volunteers at the church and teaches computer skills classes.
She is fortunate to have won a scholarship to a local college in Kenya. Many times she lacks the funds to pay for her transpiration to and from the college.
This young mother could truly benefit from a mentor. A sister
who could be her counsel as she raises her son and attends college.
$30.00 a month will allow her to support herself and her son and give her the funds needed for school.
Email nosim@nosimmaasaimission.org with your request to sponsor Harriet M.
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Esther M.
Esther M. has 2 biological children and 4 orphans who are children of relatives who have died. Esther is very determined to see that all of her children receive an education. Two of Esther's children are being sponsored by Nosim.
This lady is very talented in beadwork and has a mathematical aptitude. For this reason and because of her people skills, she is the Project Manager of the Nosim Cottage Industry and is in charge of 12 other women who make the beadwork that we sell in the states. She also sells her jewelry in the Maasi Market in Nairobi. Esther could benefit from the wise counsel of another business woman.
Her area is very challenged for water, and Esther must sometimes use all of her earnings to pay for portage water. She and her children are often sick because she does not have the money to buy clean water and must rely on watering holes containing water-borne illnesses. Her daughter, Christine, has been treated for 3 months for water-borne illnesses, and this has tremendously impacted her finances.
$30.00 would augment her meager income and help her to educate all of the children.
Email nosim@nosimmaasaimission.org with your request to sponsor Esther.
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Alice W.
Alice W. is single and engaged to marry a young man who will soon be coming to the United States to complete a MBA.
She completed training in Secretarial and works as a receptionist/secretary earning a meager wage that covers her rent and one meal a day. Any extra monies she may earn are returned home to help educate her young brother. Nosim has recently found a sponsor for her brother.
This young woman could truly benefit from a mentor. A sister
who could be her consul as she prepares for marriage.
$30.00 a month will allow her to support herself and help her family.
Email nosim@nosimmaasaimission.org with your request to sponsor Alice W.
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Jackie M.
Jackie has a 5 year old son that she is raising alone because of abuse from her husband. She is fortunate to have her education. She has a 3 year degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management.
She currently works at a tourism hotel in the town of Meru. Unfortunately, she only makes about $30.00 a month working as a receptionist. Her son is sponsored by Nosim for his education. Since she works she must pay $25.00 per month for Kelvin's transportation to school and to have a babysitter while she is at work.
$30.00 would augment her meager income and help her meet her expenses. Also a mentor would great comfort and support as she learns to juggle work and mother duties.
Email nosim@nosimmaasaimission.org with your request to sponsor Jackie.
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