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Samson and Luca visited Santa Barbara and New York last November. We were featured guests at two fundraisers of The Maasai Foundation of East Africa. You can see here our guest of honor…

Yes, Samson and I missed Africa so much that we thought to bring along a lion!

The lion’s name is Jabari, meaning brave in Kiswahili. We are grateful to Lisa Braudè and Rick Kelly for organizing Jabari’s presence and to Bob and Gail Young for sponsoring the costs for permits and insurance. Jabari was born in a zoo. His mother abandoned him and Rick Kelly saved and rescued him.

It was certainly a big surprise for our 200 member audience to see Jabari entering the Cabrillo Art Centre in Santa Barbara. We wanted to make a point: lions are beautiful and powerful animals. They are on the edge of extinction and we need to do our best to save them. Jabari helped deliver that message.

Two other guests of honor…

Edward Norton, who has generously supported with Cartier our Simba Project, kindly introduced Luca and Samson in the New York fundraising: thank you Edward.

John and Renee Grisham participated too and made an extremely generous donation: thank you John, thank you Renee.

Samson wanted to thank both Edward and John personally, and presented them with a “stick” of command, “orinka” in Maa. It is the stick that chiefs use in all their meetings.

We would like to thank all who participated in the two events. Some friends traveled long distances to come, even from Canada!

The Maasai Foundation of East Africa exceeded the goal of raising $100,000. Amazing, to say the least.

A special thank to Jeff and Debra Miller, John and Renee Grisham, Ken Coe, and Phil Osborne for their incredibly generous donations.

Thank you to you all!

Things done and things to do

This year the Trust has accomplished a lot, with grants from The MFEA, conservation fees from Campi ya Kanzi and other donations.

• Schools: Through donations and through the conservation fees paid by Campi ya Kanzi guests, we are now supporting all the 14 primary schools which are in the Group Ranch.
  We have six secondary level scholarships running and another four to be offered to the best two boys and two girls of the 2006 academic year.
  We are employing 20 teachers, 2 cleaners, and 1 cook.Projects: We would like to increase the number of teachers employed, to guarantee a good level of education to all kids. One teacher costs $2,600 per year: quite a big donation for a single donor, but think what this will accomplish: at least 30 kids will receive proper schooling.We would like to build a private school, where to provide better education through the teachers currently employed. This project is likely to be donated by a generous agent of Campi ya Kanzi: it will cost about $98,000.

  Please keep supporting us with the secondary level scholarships: they are the most meaningful.
  Only 3% of the Maasai of our Reserve can afford to get to high school. It costs $750 per year, for four years, to send a pupil to high school.

  Finally we would like to be able to offer one university scholarship a year. Depending on the discipline studied the cost would be between $7,000 to $25,000 for four years of university just for tuition, not including housing and extra fees.

• Health: We are about to complete the project of providing running water and electricity to the local dispensary. The well was dug successfully and good water found. See the installation of the pump here below.
  

  Thanks to the funds just raised we will be able to build the electricity room and to install the solar panels, inverters and batteries. We believe this is the most meaningful project the Trust is accomplishing in its 6 years existence. Proper health will help save the lives of many children. Thank you all who have participated and supported this project.

  We are going to employ a doctor at the dispensary: we are seeking sponsorship of his salary. It costs $800 a month.
  We would like to be able to accommodate the many volunteers who have offered us their help: doctors, nurses, dentists, teachers, students. It would cost $60,000 to build a house capable of hosting 8 people.

• Conservation: probably the sector that needs our most attention.Kenya has triplicated its human population in 40 years. Wildlife population is believed to have been decimated in the last 50 years of the 20th century. The numbers speak for themselves. Regardless of our successful efforts during our 10 years presence in the Chyulu Hills we need to do more. This land needs to be protected.We have been asked by the Maasai landlords to assist them in creating conservancies in the Group Ranch. This is the biggest reward for Luca: the desire to preserve wilderness, wildlife and culture is now rooted deeply in the community.

  Please support us to achieve this crucial goal.

  The Trust is now employing 30 game scouts. It costs $1,440 a year to employ a game scout.

Rains and Wildlife

This year we have been blessed by an amazing rainy season. The Chyulu Hills are wonderfully green; trees and grass are lush and healthy. Elephants have been coming closer and closer to the camp.

The other day we enjoyed an unforgettable game drive: we saw a leopard below Okoikuma, the lookout hill where we enjoy a fabulous view of Kilimanjaro. One minute later we saw a lioness and just before reaching camp another lioness with cubs.

Perhaps they wanted to thank Luca and Samson, and all of you, for the support given!

We wish you a very merry Christmas and we thank you for having let the Trust grow and become more successful. Keep supporting our efforts, and we will keep accomplishing a lot together.

Luca, Antonella, Lucrezia, Samson and all the Maasai of Kuku Group Ranch

What your money will do:

The Maasai Foundation of East Africa (http://www.maasaifoundation.org) is a US 501 c (3) nonprofit corporation that has supported the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust with grants for wildlife conservation, medical and educational projects. Your donation will be directed to the sector, project or program you choose.

Checks may be mailed to:
The Maasai Foundation of East Africa
P.O. Box 1413
Santa Barbara, CA 93102
USA

Credit cards:
Go to http://www.maasaifoundation.org

Wire transfers may be sent to:
The Maasai Foundation of East Africa
Santa Barbara Bank & Trust
20 E Carrillo Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Account number 01 07 45 90
Routing number 12 22 20 593

Donations may be made in Kenya to the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust:
Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust
Commercial Bank of Africa, Nairobi, Kenya;
Account number: 24 074 005
Swift Code CBAFKENX

Corresponding bank for $ Transfers:
American Express Bank
New York Agency
Swift Code: AEIBUS33

This past year New Mexico’s film industry, while ranging all over the state, repeatedly found itself in one particular Santa Fe neighborhood for the production of no less than three major motion pictures. The quintessential look of the Don Gaspar neighborhood, its narrow streets, and cozy homes were the backdrop for segments in “Employee of the Month”, “No Country For Old Men”, and “Wild Hogs”. **

As a way of saying “Thank You” for the patience and understanding of its residents during the days and nights of filming, as well as “Seasons Greetings,” the Don Gaspar Neighborhood Association was presented with a donation of $500 by a representative of IATSE 480 (Jon Hendry), the union for film and television technicians of New Mexico responsible for raising the donation, and the city of Santa Fe Film Office (Lisa van Allen).

Accepting the donation was Don Gaspar Neighborhood Association President, Peter Komis.

In addition, an email greeting card was sent from Lisa van Allen from the Santa Fe Film Office to 900 residents of the historic area as a personal “Thanks” for allowing film crews to share their neighborhood. The card read:

“The City of Santa Fe Film Office and the Members of IATSE Local 480 wish you the best of the season. While we know that having a production in your neighborhood can be disruptive, your kindness and generosity as well as your understanding towards the film business in allowing the shooting of: “Employee of the Month”, “No Country For Old Men”, and “Wild Hogs” created hundreds of long term high paying jobs with full benefits. The City also received lodgers’ tax and gross receipts tax from the hotel rooms, restaurant meals, and car rentals, and will receive a further benefit when these movies are released. A donation has been made on your behalf to the Historic Don Gaspar Neighborhood Association.”

The New Mexico film industry and the city of Santa Fe Film Office have brought significant business to Santa Fe in the last several years. The state’s and city’s reputation for quality crews and locations as well as persuasive economic incentives have made New Mexico the location of choice for an ever-increasing number of film projects.

** The films starred:
Jessica Simpson – “Employee of the Month”
Tommy Lee Jones – “No Country for Old Men”
John Travolta, Tim Allen, William H. Macy, Martin Lawrence, and Ray Liotta – “Wild Hogs”

Contact:
Lisa Van Allen
Santa Fe Film Office, 660-9330
Jon Hendry
IATSE 480 Business Agent, 670-7381
Peter Komis
Don Gaspar Neighborhood Association, 983-1166