Meet the Board
Meet the Board
MARA CONSERVATION
encouraging empathy for other life
MLP Team in Morocco
Advisors in Morocco
The Manyatta Project
The Manyatta Project began as a question: What if we built a children's library inside a traditional Maasai village, where homes are made of earth and have no power or light? Would anyone come?
Ololchura Village
We began this experiment in the manyatta of Ololchura, near Sekenani, establishing the first children's library inside a traditional Maasai village. We constructed it simply out of green iron sheets with concrete floor and curtains made from Maasai shukas (shawls), stocked with lots of nice children's books and art supplies. A plug-and-play solar on top provides lighting, making this the only lit structure in its village.
Our question Would anyone come? was quickly answered, as the little Library was wildly popular from the start and has become a community hub for youth. It planted a seed that fed a curiosity for shared learning that children everywhere naturally have. These are children who have never held reading, writing, and drawing materials before.
Today, this little library is full of children day and evening. It has become a community hub, with children's activities and with elders managing village affairs, sharing indigenous knowledge, and holding storytelling nights. We've added rainwater catchment and a community water filter. The elder is now asking to expand the library. This is a simple project that could be replicated in other villages.
Amos and Barb paid a surprise visit 3 nights after opening, and this is what we found.
How it came together
Volunteer librarian Andrew has held preschool classes here — another first in a traditional Maasai village. These children are more prepared now when they join school.
Children between the ages of 3 and 12 created and illustrated a new book for their library — "The Maasai Creation Story" — as Amos narrated the story. We're producing the book for them in the U.S.
We've provided solar reading lights from the start, to read or look at picture books here in the dark or to take home with book.
"The children are feeling more superior now when going to school, because they have something to be proud of."
~ Andrew Nkongoni, Manyatta Librarian
Ol Chorro Village, Rhino Sanctuary
We launched a second Manyatta Library in the village at Ol Chorro White Rhino Sanctuary in Mara North. Some of the residents here work as rangers at the Sanctuary protecting endangered white rhinos. This library is round, in a local style, and has become as popular in its village as the first one.
A look at both Manyatta Libraries
Thank you to eco-architect HItesh Mehta and team for this video.
