Who we are

Shari Young

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed, it is the only thing that ever has" ~Margaret Mead

I love this quote. It speaks to me of what is still possible; changing lives of those less fortunate. The Amboseli Children's Fund grew out of a desire to do just this.
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Leonard Mpaayo

A Maasai warrior who fulfilled his dreams through education.

I was born in the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro in the Amboseli region of Southern Maasai land, Kenya. I grew up in a village (manyatta) of mud huts enclosed by a thorn (acacia tree) fence. It was a natural way of life with no modern conveniences and few comforts.
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There is little infrastructure; no paved roads, no electricity or refrigeration, no running water (water had to be carried from rivers, springs or wells). Also, on the Savannah lands was the ever-present danger of wild animals; elephants, buffalo, hippos and the great carnivores - lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and jackals.

Until the age of 10, as with most Maasai boys, I tended the family's calves and cattle. Then as the youngest of 11 children my parents informed me that the Kenyan government had decreed that every family should send one child to school. In our family, I was that child.

I attended government primary schools. I was a boarder as it was too far to walk there from our ever shifting manyatta. I saw my family at vacation times only. In this environment I thrived. My world opened up and I worked hard to be one of the few in the community to pass the high school entrance examination (which is competitive) and gain a highly coveted chance to go to beyond primary school. The Kenyan school authorities sent me far away from Amboseli to Narok where I attended Olchekut Supat Apostolic Secondary school, a boarding school run by missionaries. To pay for this my father had to sell some of his cattle, his only means of support. I am, to this day, the only person in my immediate family who has been educated and become literate.

An internship with the Serena Safari Lodge in Amboseli National Park allowed me to further my education and earn a Wildlife Management Certificate. I became one of 10 senior staff.

Unexpectedly, there would be another chapter that would ultimately take me far from the lands of my birth. In 2007, I met the woman who would become my wife while she and her friends were on safari in Amboseli. In 2010 I moved to California where I have lived a life far beyond the dreams of a young Maasai cattle herder. It is my hope that through education many other Maasai children may have the opportunity to live a life beyond their dreams too.

Leonard Soipei ole Mpaayo
Co-Founder
Amboseli Children's Fund

Basia Christ

For Maasai each day is forever and the "Now" is what they live in.

I became a board member for Amboseli Children’s Fund in 2014. I have served on various boards and much of my focus has been advocating for victims of domestic violence and human rights.

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Rich Fisher

Changing lives, one child at a time.

My journey with ACF began with a chance opportunity to travel to Africa with Shari when Basia was unable to make the trip. At the time I could not have imagined that this seemingly simple bit of luck would change my view of the world and my place in it.

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In preparation for leaving I imagined the scenery and the wildlife we might encounter while there, the people, the smell of the air, the possible dangers and of course the unexpected surprises.

Once there a new reality quickly began to emerge. I found myself drawn to the kids, drawn in a way I could not have possibly predicted. I knew in advance that these were children who come from a life of poverty we as westerners can't begin to imagine.

When we get up each morning we simply flick a switch and there's light, we turn a handle and lo and behold.... water. When we open the door to go outside we don't have to look around to see if a lion is hiding in the bush, life for us is pretty easy. None of these things are true for these kids and yet, I was struck by their smiles and happy outlook. No complaints, no whining, just a sense of wonder about us and a happy joyful outlook towards each other and their strange new guests.

When I agreed to go on this new adventure I had no reason to believe I would get involved in any other way then to simply show up for our departing flight. I couldn't have been more wrong. Within the first couple of days I began to fall in love with these kids, you really can't help but be overwhelmed by their laughter and gentle nature. Before the end of the first week I knew that my time and thoughts about Africa and these kids would not end with the flight home.

I sponsor a young girl named Nancy, she is as cute as a button, with a smile that can melt your heart, as it did mine. I will be her sponsor for as long as she's in school, including University (I hope). We met the first week we were there and when Shari told me she had no sponsor, well, game over. I was in for the long haul -however long and for wherever it might lead, I'll be there for her in any way I can. We talk and correspond when it's possible but the truth is I miss her and wish it were possible to be together from time to time but it's obviously not easy.

The other part of the story and a big part of why I've taken on this responsibility, is the way Shari runs ACF. The Integrity of ACF was vital to my participation. All funds collected are used for the education and benefit of the kids, period. The funds to travel to Africa do not come from sponsors or donors. All overhead costs are paid for by Shari, not by collected funds. Another equally important part of the program for me is Leonard. Having Leonard in Africa to manage the day-to-day affairs is critical to the programs success, and his dedication to it for me was a very important part of my signing on to ACF.

You often hear it said that one person can change the world. Well, that may be true but what may be more true and just as important is that one person can help to change one small part of it for the better. You can't grow a field of corn with one seed.... but it's a start.

Rich Fisher

Board Member

Amboseli Children's Fund

Anna Reya

First they say if you are to handle yourself use your brain but if you are to handle others then use your heart .

I am a Mom, a Maasai lady and a business woman. l was born in the Amboseli plains southern Kenya region. Born at a time when boy child education, F.G.M (female genital mutilation) and early marriages thrived among our community.

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At a young age boys already knew pretty well that they were considered more valuable than girls. They were taken to school and girls left at home to look after cattle and do other domestic chores.

I was fortunate; at the age of a grade four student l began my primary education with the help of a World Vision sponsorship. l started off from grade one because l was bright and didn't need to do preschool classes. My primary school life was tough as my parents knew nothing about books and they never cared much about education.

I would go back home to find lots of house chores to do, nothing to eat and little time to study. After getting all the chores done it would be late at night when I could read by the fire so you can imagine the smoke , mosquito's and other distractions.

After completing my primary education l passed and wanted to go on to high school but World Vision dropped their sponsorship. Thankfully I was able to convince my dad to pay for my fees. At that time we were considered old enough for the F.G.M rite. Every girl had to pass through this otherwise the community would despise and chase you away. We were circumcised forcefully and then if not in school, married off to older men as the second and third wife. The ritual was very painful and a lot of bleeding was experienced. After recovery l joined high school and life became easier as I less domestic work to do and maximum time to read. l passed with flying colors and even qualified to join the Kenya Medical Training Centre but unfortunately got pregnant.

l tried explaining to my Dad but he turned a deaf ear to me and married me off to a man of his choice. l was basically sold off to a new family and place.

Dedicating my time and energy to my in-laws and giving birth to kids was one of my the hardest times in my life. l had to do everything perfectly otherwise the hell l would pass through was unbearable. My education bore no fruits until l decided to transform lives through education and became a teacher. l advised young girls on the effects of F.G.M and early marriages. It was tiring but extremely rewarding at the end of the day.

After Leonard told me about Amboseli Children's Fund and their desire to help Maasai children thru education, I didn't hesitate to offer my assistance. I help with transporting the kids to their various schools, speaking with educators, monitoring their progress and reporting their scores. Seeing girls thrive in their new environment and become valuable in the community has made me more than happy. I believe education for both boys and girls is essential to our community and will positively affect not only this generation but ones to come.

Anna Reya

Kenya Project Coordinator

Amboseli Children's Fund

Sam Bridle

"Education is not a way to escape poverty,
it is a way of fighting it.".
~ Julius Nyerere

Prior to retirement, my professional background in engineering and business management in the chemical industry allowed me to travel internationally and see first hand the plight of the poor in developing countries. I have not had the opportunity to visit Kenya but was right across the border from Amboseli NP in 2017 while climbing Mt.

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Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Little did I know then that I would soon start donating to an educational nonprofit in Kenya!

Being the first college graduate in my family has made me a strong believer in the power of education to improve lives. I consider myself a lifelong learner and am continually surprised by the unexpected doors that are opened by the simple act of learning!

The donor base for Amboseli Children's Fund (ACF) has literally been built by word-of-mouth from the ground up by its' cofounder, Shari Young. Soon after meeting Shari, I realized she was on a mission to lift the Maasai near Amboseli NP out of extreme poverty. Her core concept of educating Maasai children to break their generational cycle of poverty clearly resonated with me. Shari's nonprofit model in which every donation flowed through ACF directly to fund the education of children convinced me to become a sponsor in 2020.

Since becoming a sponsor, I have observed from afar the growth of the younger students in the ACF program. Helping to give them hope for the future has been very rewarding personally.

One of the real strengths of the ACF program is that it extends past high school into post-secondary or university level education. When the opportunity arose to get involved in mentoring the university students, I volunteered to take on this new role. Part of it has been a bit like reliving my college days without having to go to class or take exams! But honestly, working with college age Maasai students to help them learn new life skills and see them on the cusp of breaking through to a vocation or career is very motivating.

The potential for ACF to branch out beyond education and more fully support the Maasai people is enormous. By building on the strong foundation that Shari Young and Leonard Mpaayo have established, ACF is now poised to have a greater impact on the Amboseli Maasai standard of living. My goal is to support that expanded mission in the best way that my time and treasure will allow.

Sam Bridle

Board Member

Amboseli Children's Fund

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