The picture above is Fredrick, Agnes Mako, me, her mother Muntet Mako, and William.  The occasion is Agnes’ class graduation after eight years of school.  She has taken her examination and in January will find out which level of high school -- national, professional, or district -- she has qualified for.  The government pays half the cost for the national schools, the family must provide the rest.

Girls tend to drop out of school for various reasons.  Agnes’ class is all boys except for her and one other girl, her friend whom I met.  The teachers and her family are very supportive of Agnes, but it must be difficult sometimes with all those boys and only two girls.  I met the whole class -- a very good group of students and the school was wonderful.  The headmaster, Julius Kisemei, showed us around and our classrooms at home could learn quite a bit from this excellent Kenyan village school.

As you know from earlier days, I came to Kenya concerned about the drought and hoping I could find some way -- a practical, workable way -- to help.

In our country, when trouble strikes a family, the neighbors or the church usually step in to help.  we provide rides to school, we babysit, or we show up at the family’s door in the evening with pots of soup or casseroles.  We do not have to be told to do this, and when our time of trouble comes, we are grateful to take our turn to open the door to our neighbor bringing soup.

This was the spirit in which I wanted to offer help.  Not to change things, not to teach anything, just to offer some soup after a hard and tragic time. 

At first, I designed a webpage where people who read about my trip could contribute so I could buy and give a calf -- one calf -- to Masai herdsmen who suffered losses to their herds.

These are very smart, far-thinking people.  They know drought will come again.  They also know their herds can be managed to increase their value and decrease the cost to the environment.  They are working out how to do this in those long conversations in Masai I’ve heard in our hours of fabulous, incredible game drives.  Drive the Land Rover or Land Cruiser over the rocks and rivers with one hand, offer me tea with another, spot the little brown rug on a distant hill that’s a lion with one eye, settle the future of your country with the other.  Remarkable.

Masai women, in general, do not own property.  They have no rights over their children.  They do not choose who or when they will marry.  All rights -- so far -- are vested in men, who usually have more than one wife.  There are some positives to this.  The first wife retains a position of respect in the community which she keeps regardless of later wives.  There is very little divorce.  When a couple has problems, the community gathers and it is talked out.  If the man is not acting well, he can be fined.  The families can and do intervene to solve many problems.  Older people are respected and valued and they have authority.

Nonetheless, when all is said and done, there are almost no legal rights.  This is changing with education.  I think when a woman gets an education and a job, her salary will be seen as hers?  I do not know how general this is.

For the Masai to be strong in the new world, the women must also be strong and have rights.  Our country has the role in the world it does partly because we are a melting pot where all groups meet together to rule the land.  It is also strong because we use the resource of our women.  Typically, I think, we women love our men and want the best for them, and we bring great strength to this.  An American husband and wife who get along and work as a team can do wonders.  We can think of many couples as examples.

I choose not to marry right now, but I also live and work with many men, who help me or do what they are asked to do very well and support my life.  Not because they have to, but because men can be very kind to a strong woman.  I know no successful woman who does not owe her success to the freely given, generous help of good men, sometimes more than help from women, although that also can be important.

I think Agnes Mako can grow to be a leader among wonderful Masai women.  I asked her and her mother for permission to give her a calf, a good female calf which can bear others, later this year when there are calves to be bought.  I also asked my kind and wise guides, Fredrick and William to help.

Not only did they agree, but they showed true Masai leadership in taking over this project and moving it forward far more wonderfully than I could have imagined.  I didn’t have to do a thing.

They understand and have explained to others not only that this cow belongs to Agnes, but that she must be involved in the choice and purchase, so she will learn how to build some capital.  When I was young, I had a calf.  I grew it to a cow and used the money to help with college expenses.  Agnes can do whatever she chooses but I hope and believe she’ll build her future well. 

I think Agnes Mako can be a leader in her community.  I was not perfect, Lord knows.  There were many mistakes and false steps, especially as I went through my twenties.  Lord!  I am sure she will do better, and do not want to ask too much of a young woman or her family.  But Kenya needs leaders, leaders among the women as well as all the good leaders I see among the men.  They will be strong as they work together.

You can help with this project and whatever comes from it if you want.  No organizational charges, no fees, no salaries.  These will all be donated by me and by www.rapidregistration.com (thank you!!).

To contribute to this project, please go to the following link: http://is.gd/5f9Ux

Let me know if there’s any problem (pbart@greenbuilders.com).

Below is what I saw on my way to the airport, leaving Africa: