About the Maasai Children’s Initiative

The Maasai Children’s Initiative (MCI) is a community-based organization headquartered in the Talek community in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve—recently designated as the 8th World Wonder—of Narok district in Kenya.

MCI was founded by Sekeyian Yiaile, who grew up in a Maasai village, attended college and graduate school in the United States, and returned to Kenya to promote educational opportunity, economic development and women’s empowerment in rural Maasai communities. Ms. Yiaile serves as the Founder and MCI’s Executive Director and as a Board Member. MCI is supported financially by Matthew P. Bergman of Vashon, Washington, and is registered in the United States as a 501(c) (3) private non-profit corporation. Mr. Bergman serves as Chair of the Board of Directors.

Why We Are Unique

MCI works in partnership with the community, respecting the social structure and cultural traditions of the Maasai culture. We use the collaborative, non-confrontational Maasai approach to achieve tangible results. MCI rejects the “top-down” approach promoted by many Western charities. Instead, we work within existing Maasai community structures and social networks to nurture the forces of progressive change and educational development. As a Maasai-run organization, we are well positioned to work within Maasai communities at the village level, and with NGOs, donors, government institutions and our partners.

Locations

Our programs presently operate in the Enkong Narok community, in the Amboseli Kajiado district, and the Ngosuani and Mpuai communities, both in the Maasai Mara region in Narok district.

For More Information, Contact:

Headquarters in Kenya
Sekeyian Yiaiile, Founder/Executive Director
Maasai Children’s Initiative (MCI)
Box 253 Narok Kenya
sekeyian@gmail.com

In the U.S.
Matthew Bergman, Board Chair
P.O. Box 2010
Vashon, WA 98070
matt@bergmanlegal.com