Our Mission
The Maasai people of Northern Tanzania have experienced extreme disadvantages in their national education system. The government schools are located far from rural villages and students experience debilitating language challenges in the classrooms. The problems in the educational system results in the marginalization of Maasai people and culture in Tanzania.
The Napokie Foundation is a unique initiative formed in 2011 that seeks to put the agency back into Maasai communities by developing nursery, primary, and secondary schools that cultivate an environment where Maasai can learn to better sustain their culture and way of life. The Napokie Foundation was founded by four Maasai activists and an activist from the United States. There are currently two ongoing initiatives under the Napokie Foundation.
The Napokie Initiatives are directed by the local community leaders of each village and are centered on creating fluidity between traditional and formal education. This is a long-term program focusing on creating Maasai-oriented school systems in Tanzania. The Napokie initiatives depend on the direct involvement of the communities, especially the elders, in the management of the schools and curriculum development.
The schools will be run for and by Maasai, and will adhere to the value of indigenous knowledge. The schools will focus on building literacy in Maa along with Swahili and English. To facilitate the use of Maa, the Napokie Foundation members will be working to translate lessons and books into the language (and Swahili if a translation does not exist). The nursery, primary, and secondary schools will maintain a learning environment complementary to traditional forms of learning. They will inculcate cultural pride into the students, while also teaching English and subjects adhering to the national standards of education in Tanzania.
Current Projects
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MRANDAWA PROJECT
Mrandawa is a village located in the Monduli district of Tanzania. The village of Mrandawa has had a particularly difficult time developing due to lack of funding and the remoteness of the area. The Napokie Foundation has attempted to work around these impediments and focus on ... READ MORE 
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THE NAMELOCK SCHOOL
The Namelock Nursery School is located in the village of Terrat in the area of Simanjiro, outside of Arusha. This is our most developed Napokie initiative. Its director, Nasinyari Marko, is an extraordinary Maasai woman who is dedicated to Maasai women's empowerment in ... READ MORE
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