Kathleen Godfrey

McGill University

Project location: South Rift, Kenya

Crafting a culturally-relevant conservation curriculum for primary-level Maasai school children

Community Connection

I was connected with the Olkiramatian and Shompole Maasai communities while working with a Maasai-led pastoral development NGO, the South Rift Association of Land Owners (SORALO) as an intern and graduate student. Over two summers, and through a multitude of interactions, the people of Olkiramatian and Shompole‚ their culture, insights, outlooks, and values‚ have left indelible impressions on my mind and heart. To use my privileged access to opportunities like the Pathy Foundation Fellowship is one way that I continue to support the livelihoods, worldview, and richness of Maasai culture and community in the South Rift.

What do you hope to achieve?

Through the Pathy Foundation Fellowship I am excited to translate years of conversation and theory into action. The most exciting aspect of this experience will be an asset-based and community-driven approach coming to life through intergenerational and intercultural dialogue, with the aim being communicating important messages with meaningful outcomes for the wider Olkiramatian and Shompole communities.