Child Rights

The Maa Trust works with communities across the Maasai Mara to protect children and end harmful practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Through forums, trainings, and school programs, more than 2,600 people — including men, women, youth, and religious leaders — were empowered with knowledge on child protection and positive alternatives. In 2024, 262 girls participated in Community-Led Alternative Rites of Passage (CLARP), embracing culturally meaningful, education-focused transitions that safeguard them from FGM and early marriage. By engaging over 1,400 pupils and strengthening community champions, these initiatives are transforming cultural norms and building safer futures for children.

Community Engagement and Advocacy

The protection and promotion of children’s rights remain at the heart of The Maa Trust’s mission to foster sustainable, community-driven development in the Maasai Mara. In 2024, our initiatives made significant strides in shifting cultural norms, advancing legal awareness, and empowering adults and youth to stand against harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), child marriage, and gender-based violence.

Through community forums, we reached 463 men and 501 women, equipping them with knowledge of child rights, legal frameworks, and culturally sensitive alternatives to harmful practices. These safe spaces encouraged open dialogue, where men and women could challenge stigmas and commit to creating safer environments for their children.

Building Champions for Change

To strengthen grassroots advocacy, The Maa Trust trained 24 youth champions, 24 religious leaders, and 36 former cutters and Traditional Birth Attendants—turning them into powerful voices for children’s rights within their communities. By mobilizing diverse stakeholders, including those who once practiced FGM, we are creating a broad coalition that protects children and fosters generational change.

At the school level, Mara Champions Clubs reached 1,409 pupils across 19 primary schools, raising awareness on child marriage, adolescent pregnancy, and gender-based violence. Pupils were not only informed about their rights but also equipped with advocacy skills and self-protection strategies, empowering them to become champions of their own futures.

Alternative Rites of Passage and Cultural Transformation

A highlight of 2024 was the Community-Led Alternative Rites of Passage (CLARP), which engaged 262 girls aged 8–15 in a five-day training at Endoinyo e Rinka. This culturally aligned initiative replaces FGM with an education-focused rite of passage, equipping girls with critical life skills while affirming their transition into womanhood in safety and dignity. The program also included exposure visits to the Wildlife Tourism College, broadening the girls’ aspirations in fields such as environmental management, hospitality, and tourism.

The CLARP celebration brought together over 700 community stakeholders, including religious and cultural leaders, parents, and community members, to bless the girls and affirm education-driven alternatives over harmful traditions. A father’s testimony—acknowledging the harm caused to his daughter by FGM—underscored the urgency and impact of this cultural transformation.