Chevening scholar Naomi Koinase shares her plans for supporting indigenous Maasai children in Tanzania by providing them with equal opportunity to education. Hear how she's been breaking barriers and how Chevening is preparing her to drive impact in the future.
My mission is to bring education to indigenous Maasai children in Tanzania. I come from a marginalised community of the Maasai, characterised by a patriarchal structure which limits women and girls’ potential to access education and economic independence. In 2022, I became the first person from my village to graduate from university- a success that ignited a passion in me to start supporting other children to get an education, fighting against early marriages and discouragement from the community.
While I was still just an undergraduate student at university, I began funding and supporting children, getting them into established secondary schools in the local area. In 2023, the demand for my service grew and I decided to officially register my organisation, OMOM Maasai Community Foundation (OMOM). Since then, we continue to focus on improving the lives of the Maasai community through education, economic empowerment and environment conservation.
Our E-SIDAI project identifies Maasai children who finished primary schools, but have been unable to continue with secondary education. We provide them with resources they need to study and transfer them to equipped secondary schools. But that’s not all. We also provide a safe-house and support children through a mentorship programme, matching them to mentors in their desired future career fields. Alongside this, we do school visitations to 4 schools every year, supporting children in areas such as mental health, carrier guidance, leadership skills and sexual reproductive health.
The success of the E-SIDAI project has been widely recognised and let to funds from the Trevor Noah Foundation and Young Africa Leadership Initiative (Fund), enabling us to continue our work in the future.
Chevening has given me an opportunity to study an a master’s in Gender and Development at Sussex University. This opportunity has allowed me to hone my skills in advocacy, networking, critical thinking and public speaking. Going forward, I will use these skills through the Omom Maasai Community Foundation.
As a Chevening scholar, I have also been able to attend various events. I went to the Education World Forum (2025) held in London and was able to meet ministers of education from 130 countries, policy makers and funders. The network I developed from this event will be crucial for the future, in particular having met ministers of education from Africa, potential funding partners.
I have become more independent and self-aware, figuring out how to solve challenges and drive solutions on my own.
I will keep working with the Omom Maasai Community Foundationl,and through education, by establishing primary and secondary schools. Through these, I will provide both a free and transformative education to indigenous Maasai Children, hopefully to inspire future Cheveners!
As a gender specialist, I’ll work with women and girls in my community, and beyond, to advocate for their rights to attain freedom of economy, education and more. I look to collaborate with partner organisations to drive shared goals, using my knowledge and expertise.
In next 10 years, I aspire to become the member of Parliament, as woman representing the Maasai constituency (Simanjiro). Being in this position will enable me drive and support policies that support women and girls in Tanzania, as well as removing policies and barriers which oppress women and girls.
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