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A Vision of Empowerment.
Nchaishi Vision is a social enterprise initiative born out of a desire to provide the next generation with the tools to take control of their future and empower their community.
The community of Nchaishi village, with a population of around 3,000, has faced a lack of access to education since Kenya's independence. The nearest school, established by missionaries in the 1990s, is situated 6 kilometers away, an impractical distance for rural children to walk daily. This issue is exacerbated by the fragmentation of the Maji moto group ranch where Nchaishi is located, with no land designated by the government for educational, medical, religious, or water facilities. Consequently, Nchaishi has one of the lowest literacy rates in the county.
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To address these challenges, Simon Ole Tong’oyo, a member of Maji moto, took action. Believing in the transformative power of education, he partnered up with a group of indigenous members of Majimoto to open this school. The Nchaishi Vision School holds a critical significance for the Maasai community of Nchaishi. As they face the growing threat of climate disasters, the Maasai population in Maji moto is being forced to adapt and transition from their ancestral pastoralist practices to exploring new economic opportunities. Although pastoralism holds deep cultural meaning, the reality of increasing droughts is making it increasingly unsustainable. The Nchaishi Vision School serves as a showcase for alternative land use options in Maasailand and an inspiration for similar initiatives in other communities.
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Nchaishi Vision School operates as a social enterprise initiative with full community ownership. To ensure the community's involvement in decision-making and the growth of the project, we provided the parents with the opportunity to elect their representatives. As a result, three men and three women were nominated to serve on the board. In a recent board meeting, we aimed to identify potential stakeholders and partners who could support this budding initiative and help it become a reliable source of support for the community.
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The Nchaishi Vision School officially opened its doors on May 2, 2022, and currently serves 18 students, including two orphans who face financial difficulties. The school provides assistance to these students by covering the cost of their school materials.v