People help Kenyan villagers

#MiddleburyCT #Kenya #MaasaiTribe

A staff member examines a patient. (Elaine Strobel photo)

By ELAINE STROBEL

Introduction: In March 2026, 13 people from across the U.S. traveled to a remote village in Kenya with Global Village Ministries (www.globalvillageministries.org) bringing with them much needed items for the village school and providing dental and health care to as many as they could during their stay. Middlebury resident Elaine Strobel was part of that group. At our request, she wrote about the trip so we could learn what life is like in the Maasai region of Africa. Her three-part story appears in print in the May, June and July 2026 issues. The entire essay is presented here.

While there, Strobel discovered an urgent need for eyeglasses, and she is asking for donations of used eyeglasses, particularly dark glasses. All glasses are appreciated. They can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Middlebury Senior Center in Shepardson Community Center at 1172 Whittemore Road in Middlebury.

Part 1 – The land and the people

The flight to Nairobi, Kenya, took 15 hours. We were a 13-member team from across the United States on a medical and educational mission for Global Village Ministries. As we began our final descent, the flight attendant announced, “Plastic bags are not allowed to enter the country.” I didn’t think I’d heard correctly. Five minutes later, he repeated, “Plastic bags are not allowed to enter the country.” I don’t believe anyone took the announcement seriously. After we landed, I learned that Kenya has difficulty disposing of plastic bags and water bottles and that the government is trying to limit their impact by restricting their use. The policy is working in certain areas of the country.

We arrived around 11:30 p.m., and our group cleared customs with 23 large bags without issue. As we exited the airport, our luggage was briefly X-rayed, and officers asked what was inside. We politely explained that we were there on a medical and educational mission, bringing supplies for a clinic and a school. Next, officials told us we had to pay a tariff to bring the materials into the country. They demanded $3000 USD from our group to leave the airport. Fortunately, our contact in Nairobi, Faith, arrived just in time and negotiated the fee down to $500 USD. We paid the tax and exited the airport.

Water buffalo roam the land.

The next day, we took a six-hour jeep ride to the Maasai region – the part of the country where we would be working. The jeep traveled along two-lane roads. There are no interstate highways like those in the United States and Europe. Outside Nairobi, there are no stoplights, only rotaries. When vehicles enter towns on straight roads, speed bumps slow traffic. If they want you to stop before entering a town, spikes are spread across half the road so only one car can pass at a time.

Many of the roads and almost all the railroads were built by the Chinese government. The roads had many potholes because thin layers of asphalt were used in construction. The Kenyan government owes money to China for its work and is struggling to repay the debt. As a result, the Chinese are asking for payment in Kenya’s natural resources.

A giraffe surveys the scene.

The scenery on our drive to the Maasai region reminded me of the movie “The Lion King.” In the opening song, “The Circle of Life,” all the animals gather to pay tribute to Simba. The landscape looks just like that. I saw many zebras, giraffes, warthogs, elephants, and rhinos. Kenya is exceptionally beautiful. Conservancies are used to protect wildebeest and other species from poaching and migration disruptions. They are visible throughout Kenya. Some are owned and operated by wealthy local landowners, while others are managed by the government and funded internationally. The Maasai Mara Conservancy is famous for its abundant and diverse wildlife and cultural heritage. There are two conservancies in the region. I was informed that locals now do most of the poaching.

Kenya has many safari resorts. Tourists pay about $10,000 USD per person per week for safaris in these conservancies. It’s common for travelers to spend an entire week focused on a single animal. After expenses, the rest of the safari money goes to wealthy resort owners in the Netherlands, South Africa, and China. None of it helps local people.

Kenya has 43 tribes, each with its own language. Swahili and English are the country’s official languages. Most Kenyans speak their native tongue as their first language and use Swahili and English for communication throughout the country.

The Maasai people are a semi-nomadic tribe that tend to and follow their animals – cows, sheep, and goats. Men with strong hunting skills protect their village from wild animals. They carry thick wooden sticks, one with a ball at the end to throw at non-domestic animals and a longer one to lean on when they are out in the field. If you are recognized for strong hunting skills, the elders choose you for an initiation to become a leader. You must venture into the wild and survive with only a stick for several days. If you endure the challenge, you become a tribe leader and receive a spear. When we arrived at our huts, one of the warriors was standing by a fire with a pole bearing a spear. He told me he was protecting the domestic animals from hyenas. We heard hyenas and owls at night.

Most tribe members live in mud huts like this one with a livestock pen next to it.

Most of the tribe’s people live in mud huts about 100 square feet in size. There is no electricity or running water, and each hut has only one small window for ventilation. The huts contain two small rooms and a tiny cooking area, where they cook over indoor fires. The floors are made of mud. In larger villages, some people live in a one-room 168-square-foot rental. These are made of cement, have small front windows, no running water, and small indoor grills used for cooking. Electricity is limited. Within a section of the complex, three holes in the ground serve as bathrooms.

Our host’s name was Caroline. She was the daughter of a Maasai chief and had two older brothers. Her parents believed in educating all their children. It is very uncommon for a woman to receive instruction, let alone a college degree. After completing their schooling, she and her brothers left their village to work in Kenya’s tourist regions.

When Caroline was 19, her parents arranged a marriage for her. The man was about 20 years older than she was, and she would be his second wife. He already had six children from his first wife. Her parents gave her the option to return home. She agreed to marry out of respect for them. Caroline said, “They gave me an education; I need to obey them.” She met her husband on the day of her wedding. Most brides’ families receive compensation from the groom. The dowry is usually about two cows and a couple of blankets. The more educated a woman is, the higher the cost. She never told us her dowry.

Tribal youth include a mother with her baby on her back.

Caroline has three children with her husband. Notably, he married again and has two more kids. Men determine how many offspring their wives will have. Once they marry, they must stay home and rear their babies.

When her parents died, Caroline inherited her father’s land, which was quite unusual. Her brothers chose not to return home, so she received the property. She established a village on this acreage for widowed or disabled women and their children, young girls from poor families who cannot be supported, and runaway married girls. Fifty-two people live there.

Most of the older women are “not marriageable widows,” women who cannot command a dowry and are viewed as having no value. A woman’s worth is judged by her ability to command a dowry. Some of her village’s residents have physical and mental disabilities; in the past, these people were told to walk into the wilderness and let the wild animals overtake them.

The rural community was created specifically for people with disabilities. Some girls are as young as five; they live there because their parents could not afford to keep them; otherwise, they would have been married off. Some girls aged 14 or 15 who live in the community are runaways. They were married off and fled from their husbands. They cannot return to their parents because they would embarrass their families. They find refuge in Caroline’s village. Older widows take care of the young children. There are one or two men in her village. They handle “male things,” like butchering, starting fires, and warding off wild animals. Caroline teaches the widows crafts like beadwork, wood carving, and textile art; helps them sell their products to support themselves; and manages their finances so that they can earn an income.

Outside her village, girls are married off for their dowries, often by age 12, to men nearly twice or three times their age. The less educated and poorer the family, the earlier the girl is sold, usually between ages 8 and 10. Before marriage, girls undergo a female circumcision ceremony. It is performed by a “witch doctor” using a broken piece of glass. Circumcision causes long-term health issues, including difficult childbirth and chronic urinary tract infections, due to extensive scar tissue. After the circumcision ceremony, she must live with her father until her wedding day. Adolescents often become pregnant at ages 11, 12, or 13.

Part 2 – The school

Students in Caroline’s school are eager to learn.

Caroline realized that many children in her community weren’t attending school because the nearest government school was a five-mile walk through wilderness filled with wild animals. That’s when she started a school for grades K-3 and added one grade each year. Now there are six grades. She is working to add grades 7 and 8.

She had to persuade parents to enroll their children, as many believe there is no value in education. Caroline even started a preschool. About 40 children are in each class. Once the young ones begin school, they want to stay. This school is the only education most of them will ever receive. The girls know they will be married off if they are not in school.

Caroline’s goal is to get as many students as possible into high school. However, most will only reach eighth grade because families see no benefit in further education. Some learners are well-suited for a trade, yet their parents still won’t let them train for one. The boys must go to work to support the family. If they have no skill or education, they become shepherds. Boys usually marry around 18 years old.

A 17-year-old boy recently ran away from home with his 14-year-old brother. He went to see Caroline and told her he wanted to go to school. He was placed in the third grade to start. His brother was placed in second grade. One wonders what made them leave their home.

The school’s tuition is $300 per year. That cost covers teachers, one pencil per child, and used workbooks. Paper at the school is limited; most of it is reused. Children are taught English because it is especially important. As Kenya’s official language, English offers greater employment opportunities.

All students bring a sturdy tree limb they can carry to school on Monday mornings. The branch is used to start a fire to cook their hot school lunch. School runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Our partnership with Memuruti Junior School was one of the most meaningful parts of the trip. Over several days, we provided school health exams, soccer balls, pencils, and books, and spent time connecting with the students. Their curiosity, kindness, and eagerness to learn were truly inspiring.

Our interpreter, Lynn, lives in Caroline’s village. Her mother is a blind widow who cannot command a dowry. She has four children. The mother is considered of no value. Lynn attended school, became proficient in English, and now works at a safari resort. She is now able to support her mother and siblings.

Part 3 – Healthcare

High fluoride levels in the local water cause mottled-looking teeth.

One of the many needs in the Maasai nation is healthcare. Healthcare is costly and undervalued, and patients often rely on a witch doctor and unscientific treatments. The local water supply contains a significant amount of fluoride, which leads to brown, mottled teeth. Most adults have the #25 or #26 tooth – a lower bottom tooth – removed. This is usually the first tooth lost when a child is developing their permanent teeth. They extract either tooth to release evil spirits. There is only one dentist for 150,000 people, and most do not see a dentist unless a missionary group visits.

Patients wait to be seen.

Over four busy days at the dental clinic, we treated approximately 200 patients, providing evaluations, urgent care, extractions, and education. We also conducted numerous medical assessments to assess the needs of children and families in the community.

Three patients stand out in my mind. A 13-year-old patient came to the clinic. She had just given birth the day before and has two other children. She walked at least an hour to reach our clinic. After having two teeth pulled, she walked home. A man around 60 years old walked four hours, had three teeth pulled, and then walked home. A woman traveled by motorcycle from 100 km (62 miles) away. She was in pain and wanted two teeth pulled. After the teeth were pulled, she told the interpreter that her husband was forbidding her from returning home. The interpreter spoke with her husband on the phone and assured him that we had no ulterior motive for providing the care. She eventually got to go home.

A car ride to the nearby hospital takes about 30 minutes. To be seen, you must pay cash up front. People rarely visit the hospital.

At school, we checked the health of all the children. About 60% had ear infections because children sleep on damp dirt floors. Many children develop asthma because the poor ventilation in their huts doesn’t remove the smoke from cooking fires.

A P.A. cleans insect bites on a boy’s leg.

One boy around 8 or 9 came to see us. His legs were covered with white, pus-filled sores. The physician’s assistant was unsure of the cause. She had some theories, but nothing fit. He did not have a fever, and the other family members were not sick, but he slept on the floor. The P.A. called her husband, a doctor in Salt Lake City working the midnight shift, and asked him to research what it might be. After about half an hour, they concluded it was probably insect bites from the mud floor. The legs were cleaned, the pus drained, and the wounds dressed. His mom took him home to his hut.

As the population ages, eyesight declines, and eye exams are rare. The sun is bright, and residents lack sunglasses. There are no corrective glasses available, and cataracts and eye infections are common. After reflecting on my visit, I still want to help the Maasai people. One way is to collect used glasses and sunglasses. My goal is to gather at least one hundred pairs. If I receive more, that will help even more people. Once I have enough to ship, I will send them to our contact in Nairobi, Kenya. If anyone has a pair of old distance, reading, or sunglasses, please bring them to Joanne Cappelletti at the Senior Center Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

My experience was a powerful reminder of the impact of compassionate care and the importance of serving others with dignity. Positively affecting the health and education of the Maasai tribe is an investment in their future – and a strong reminder that empathy, knowledge, and human connection go a long way.